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Heath, Mass. 



1785--1885. 
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 

OF THE TOWN OF / >- " 

Heath, Mass, 

I? 

-AUGUST 19, 1885. 



Addresses, Speeches, Letters, Statistics, 
Etc., Etc. 



• EDITED BY EDWARD P. GUILD. 



PUBLISHED FOR THE COMMITTEE. 



Press of Advertiser Publishing Co. 
105 Summer Street, Boston. 






The 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of 
Heath was on the 14th day of February, 1885. It was thought 
that the sons and daughters of the old Town, rememberhig 
the snow drifts of Winter would prefer to celebrate the occa- 
sion among the halcyon Summer days ; and the 19th of August 
was selected when there was a large gathering from far and 
near. 

It was voted to print the addresses and letters, and they 
are here given with some papers which, it is thought, will be of 
interest. 

John H. Thompson, 
C. E. Dickinson, 
Chaeles B. Cutler, 

Committee on Publication. 



IV 



Heath, Mass., March 2, 1885. 

In Town Meeting assembled, Article No. 8.—" To see if the 
Town will pass any votes relative to ccleljrating the Centen- 
nial anniversary of its Incorporation" was In'ought before the 
meeting. Voted, to celebrate, and that a committee of three 
(3) be "appointed by the chair to nominate a committee of ar- 
rano-ements. Names of committee, John Read, Daniel Gale 
and^Rev. B. B. Cutler. The following Committee was appointed; 
Orsanms Maxwell, Chairman; Wm. S. Gleason, Wm. M. Max- 
well, Charles D. Benson, and Charles B. Cutler, Correspond- 
ing Secretary. 

Charles B. Cutler, Sec. 



Heath, April 6, 1885. 

At a meeting of the Centennial Committee, the following 
circular letter was presented and approved, and the Cor. Sec'y. 
requested to send it to all old residents and others mterested 
in the coming celebration. 

Chas. B, Cutler, Sec. 



1785 - 1885. 
HEATH CENTENNIAL. 

The present inhabitants of Heath, Mass., have decided to 
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of its Incorporation, on 
Wednesday, August 19th, 1885, with Appropriate Ceremo- 
nies. Rev. C. E. Dickinson, of Marrietta, Ohio, and John 
H. Tho3Ipson, Esq., of Chicago, 111., are expected to deliver 
addresses on the occasion ; also a poem may be expected from 
Mrs. C. W. McCoy of Columbus, Georgia. In open meeting 
the Town chose the sul)scribers as a Committee to cany their 
wishes into effect, and we do hereby, through said Committee, 
send an earnest and cordial invitation to friends abroad, es- 
pecially former residents and connections, to attend and par- 
ticipate in, and assist in a pleasant re-union. You are also re- 
quested to forward to the Corresponding Secretary, any items 
of interest, of history, of reminiscences of by-gone days, that 
may assist in obtaining as complete and authentic history of 
the town as may be had. Please be so kind as to extend this 
invitation as far as possible. 

Trusting that you may be with us on that occasion, we 
remain, 

Yours Very Respectfully, 

O. Maxwell, Chairman, 
Wm. S. Gleason, 
Wm. M. Maxwell, 
Chas. D, Benson, 
Chas. B. Cutler, Cor. SecY. 
Heath, Mass., April 6, 1885. 



P. JS. — Those proposing to be present are requested to for- 
ward their names ten days at least before the time, to the 
Corresponding Secretary, or any of the above committee. 



VI 



Heath, Mass., June 6th, 1885. 

At a meeting of Citizens to make arrangements for the 
Centennial, Dan'l Gale was chosen chairman, and Chas. B. 
Cutler, Sec. The Cor. See's report was read and a})proved. 
On motion, it was voted that the Sec. be chosen Treasurer. 
On motion, a committee of two (2) from each School District 
was chosen to solicit for the table ; viz., West Dist., Chas. P. 
Coats, Mrs. W. 0. Bent; Branch District., 0. A. Sumner 
and wife ; No. 9 Dist., 0. E. Vincent and wife ; Xorth Dist., 
Geo. Thompson and wife ; North East Dist., William Kend- 
rick and Mrs. Mary Page; Burnt Hill Dist., J. B. Daven- 
port and wife; South Dist., (). Maxwell and wife; Center 
Dist., Edw. S. Dickinson and wife. 

Chas. B. Cutler, Sec. 



Heath, Mass., July 4th, 1885. 

At a meeting of the Centennial Committee the following 
Sub-Committee was chosen. President of the Day, Orsamus 
Maxwell, A^ice President ; Danl. Gale, John Read, Chas. P. 
Coats, Wm. M. Maxwell. Edward S. Dickinson. Committee on 
Decoration ; Rev. J. R. Flint and wife, Andrew Thompson and 
wife, Walter Benson, j\Iiss Annie ]>enson, Mrs. Geo. Tucker, 
Walter Bassctt, Sylvander Benson, Henry Stetson and S. 
Edwin Temple. Committee on Sentiment; Rev. B. B. Cutler, 
chairman ; Rev. J. R. Flint, Rev. J. Hatch, and Wm. Bassett. 
Committee on Entertainment; Hugh Maxwell, chairman; 
Mrs. Hugh Maxwell, W. S- Allard and wife, R. W. Gillett 
and wife, E. D. Hitchcock and wife, W. E. Kinsman 
and wife, Rollin Bassctt and wife, E. S. Dickinson and M-ife, 
Squire iJenson and wife, Fred Benson and wife, I. W. Stetson 
and wife, Geo. Thompson and wife. 

Chas. B. Cutler, Sec. 



Vll 



Heath, Mass., August 1st., 1885. 

A meeting of citizens called to make further arrangements 
for the Centennial met at 10 o'clock A. M. at the Town Hall 
and was called to order by the chairman, Mr. 0. Maxwell. On 
motion it was voted that a Committee of three (3) be 
chosen to select a place for holding the Centennial Celebra- 
tion and that said Committee be appointed by the Chair. The 
following named gentlemen were appointed; 0. A. Sumner, 
Rollin Bassett, F. C. Tanner. On motion it was voted that 
the meeting adjourn one half hour. Committee reported fav- 
orably on the Grove of Mr. James Bray near the Center. 
Voted that the report of the Committee be accepted and that 
the Grove be the place of holding the Centennial Exer- 
cises, and that Tuesday, Aug. 11th, 1885, be the day appointed 
to arrange said Grove in an appropriate manner. 

Chas. B. Cutler, Sec. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



Secretary's Report. 

The Heath Centennial Exercises ^vere held Aug. 19th, 
1885. The following- were the officers of the day : President' 
Orsamus Maxwell ; Vice Presidents, Dan. Gale, John Read' 
Chas. P. Coats, Wm. M. Maxwell, Edward S. Dickinson' 
Secretary, Chas. B. Cutler. Marshal, Edward S. Dickinson 
Leader of the choir, R. M. Snow, Cxreenfield. Organist, Miss 
Nettie G. Bassett. Shelburne Falls Band, Henry Sweet 
Leader. ' 

The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells and the 
booming of cannon ; but the lowering ^clouds sent down cop- 
ious showers of rain and rendered it necessary to change the 
programme somewhat. The morning o-athering wis in 
the Congregational Church, before which swung^the Stars 
and Stripes bearing the word " WELCOME." The Church had 
been hastily decorated for the occasion. Back of the pulpit 
was a large white banner bearing in evergreen letters these 
words — 



1^85. 1885 

WELCOME HOME. 

HEATH. 



i 



above which was draped two American Flags. A silk flao- 
presented to the " Heath Lidependent Rifle Co." 50 years ago'' 
was also an interesting feature. A few relics were also 
grouped about; an old portrait of Rev. Moses Miller, a former 
pastor, and a photograph of Rev. Lowell Smith, a Forei-n 



Missionary, wcrf siispciidod fruin tlic jjiilpit, and nearl»y was 
!Mr. ^lillcr's ancient Concordance. About 10 o'clock the 
cl(nids began to break away, and the church being densely 
packed, the meeting was called to order by the President of 
the day. The programme at the church was as follows : — 

1st. Music by the Shclburne Falls Band. 

2nd. A'oluntary l)y the Choir, " The Lord reigneth, let the 
people rejoice." 

8d. Reading the Scriptures, 2ud. Chron. 7th Chap, by 
Rev. J. Hatch, of Heath, from an ancient Bible now one 
hundred and fifty-four years old, brought to Heath by Col. 
Jonathan White, father of Dea. James White, father of Aunt 
Ruth AVhite who gave it to its i)rc'sent owner ]\Ir. Wm. M. 
Maxwell. 

4th. Prayer l)y Rev. B. B. Cutler of Heath. 

5th. jMusic by the Choir. Centennial Hymn. 

6th. Address of Welcome by Amos Temple, Esq. 

7th. Reply to Address of Welcome by Prof. Brainard T. 
Harrington, of West Chester, X. Y. 

8th. A Poem by ]\Irs. Catherine Barber McCoy, of Colum- 
bus, Ga., read by Rev. J. H. Hoffman of Shelburne Falls. 

9th. Historical address by John TT. Thom])Son, Esq. Chi- 
cago, 111. 

lOth. ^^)luntary by the Band. 

A procession Avas formed at once headed l)y the IMarshal on 
horse-back, followed by the Band, citizens, and strangers on 
foot and in carriages, and marched to the grove of Mr. James 
Bray, where a bountiful collation was spread by the people 
of Heath. A speaker's stand had been erected at the grove 
and was tastefully decorated. 

After dinner the Exercises in the Grove were as follows : — 

1st. Music " Old New England" by the Choir. 

2nd. Address by Rev. C. E. Dickinson of Marietta, Ohio, 
Subject, "The development and inthience of New England 
ideas." 



3d. A tribute to the late Col. R. H. Leavitt, by Dr. Josiah 
Trow of Buckland. 

4th. Reminiscences of Fort Shirley by Prof. A. L. Perry 
of Williams College. 

5th. " Heath — once prosperous, what shall her future be ?" 
responded to by Dr. Theron Temple of Waltham, Mass. 

6th. " Our Brave Soldiers." Responded to by Francis M. 
Thompson Esq. of Greenfield. 

7th. Music by the Band. 

Prof. Harrington suggested three cheers for the good peo- 
ple of Heath who so heartily Avelcomed us to the old home. 
These were given l)y the visitors, and returned with interest 
by the citizens. 

In the evening, the people gathered in goodly numbers at 
the Congl. Church, and after a time spent in hand shaking and 
sociability, the meeting was called to order 1:)y the President, 
who introduced Rev. S. F. Dickinson of Newton Iowa, to re- 
spond to the sentiment " Sons and Daughters of Heath — 
they have rendered illustrious by their character the place of 
their birth." Mr. Dickinson thought he could not better il- 
lustrate his subject than by reading letters from those who 
have gone from these dear old hillsides to nearly every 
quarter of the globe, and have rendered noble service to the 
cause of truth and Christianity. Numerous letters were read 
which are pul;)lished in this book. 

The exercises were closed with many congratulations upon 
the success of the occasion, and the recollection of the day 
will long be cherished Ijy all who were present. 

Chas. B. Cutler, Secy. 



Centennial Hymn. 



SY LEOXAIJI) M. NORTON OF WESTHAMI'TON, MASS. 

Ovir voices now shall i-aise 
The melody of praise 
For this glad day I 
Father, in heaven, above, 
A hundred years of love 
Now crown us here to prove 
Thy love for aye. 

We meet together here 

Fi'om homes both far and near 

To praise Thy name I 

We come, one family; 

May Christian charity, 

Faith and humility 

Our hearts inflame! 

We sing what love hath done 
Of hard fought battles won 
Through Thee, our Lord. 
AVe sing of harvest sheaves, 
Of hopes that Faith still weaves 
Of work that e'er receives 
Thy rich reward. 

A hundred years of grace 

Now rest upon this place, 

To bless and cheer. 

May love's best work be done, 

By every sire and son. 

Till all around are won 

To praise Thee here. 

Now may Thy Kingdom come, 

Thy holy will be done 

In earth as Heaven ; 

And when a century 

Becomes Eternity, 

To us in ecstacy 

Thy home be given. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME 



By AMOS TEMPLE. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 

To-day we have seen it proved that wherever man may- 
wander out in the broad world, or to whatever distances he 
may roam, or its uncertain currents may bear him, or how- 
ever long the years may intervene ; if he has a heart in his 
bosom, or has any manhood left, there is one spot that is pic- 
tured upon his heart, and memory loves to recall the scenes 
of childhood, and the old associations that cluster around the 
old home. Perhaps it may Ije humble, yet it brings fond re- 
collections to view when we think of the old oaken Ijucket, the 
orchard, the meadow, the hill, and the vale. Though child- 
hood's home may have been filled with sorrow and disappoint- 
ment, yet the tendrils of the heart cling to the old loved spot. 
We see before us many of the sons and daughters of Heath, 
who have pitched their tents in other places amid other scenes ; 
and today we meet to recall old scenes and old familiar faces. 
But as we look here and there the thought comes : " where are 
the friends of our youth," and echo answers " gone," the church- 
yard tells the sad story of many that have gone, the battle- 
field tells of others who laid down their lives for the good of 
others. To-day we are reminded that this year the old town 
is one hundred years old, born Feb. 14, 1785, and we come to 
tell the " old, old story." Fathers and Mothers, Sisters and 
Brothers, in the name and in liehalf of my fellow-citizens, I offer 
you a heartfelt salutation, and welcome you to o/r/*home and to 
your home. Right glad are we to see so many of you and we say 
again it' e/co/ne, glad to see so many familiar faces, as well as so 
many faces, familiar only as they repeat and perpetuate the fea- 
tures of kindred. We welcome you to all that is comprised in 



6 

that best of words liome. As you cast your eyes over the old 
landscape you will perceive that many places you once knew, you 
will know no more. But the onward march of improvement has 
not leveled these old hills so but what they can lift their heads 
and bid you welcome. These grand old hills still abide ; the 
vales shout forth their welcome, the rills that run among the 
hills sing welcome, and the trees stretch forth their hands and 
bid you welcome. Fathers with hair silvered — Mothers with 
names dearer and holier than any earthly name — Brothers 
strong and with vigor crowned, and Sisters fair as the rose — 
one and all, ivelcome, a thousand times, WELCOME. 



Response to Address of Welcome. 

By BRAINARD T. HARRINGTON, of Westchester, N.Y. 

Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, citizens of Heath : 

Perhaps I never before so surely felt my utter inability to 
perform a task alloted me, and as it has been but a few hours 
since your secretary requested me to take this part in these 
exercises, there has been no time for any concerted action on 
the i)art of your wandering children, so what I may say will 
be but a feeble expression of our gratitude to you for the 
privilege we have of meeting here again. About fifty years 
ago, I Ijelicve, I made an address in the Hall in the old " Red 
Tavern," in which I began something like this — 

"You'd scai'ce expect one of my age 
To speak in public on the stage, 
And if I cliance to fall below 
Demosthenes or Cicero, 
Don't view me with a critic's eye, 
But pass my imperfections bj-." 

And assuredly, I have far greater need to crave your indul- 
gence now, than I then had. In behalf, then, of your return- 
ing sons and daughters, I will simply say we thank you for 
the welcome which has just now Ijeen so eloquently extended 



to US ; we thank you for the kindl)^ greetings with which we 
are met in every street and by-way ; we thank you for the 
generous hospitality which has caused the doors of every 
house on these old hill tops to stand wide open for our recep- 
tion. 

It is now about forty years since I left this town, and I 
remember well that I soon began to look back with pride as I 
thought, that of all the States of this glorious Union I could 
claim the Old Bay State — and of all the Counties in this 
State, the County of Franklin, and of all the Towns in this 
County the Town of Heath, as the place of my nativity : and 
now let me say, I say it softly too, that I may offer no incite- 
ment to any dissention in this family gathering, I went a 
little further still, in that, of all the School Districts of this 
Town, my claim should be on the old North Center. 

Now some one may ask me for the reason for this faith 
which is in us in regard to this town of Heath. No doubt 
this question will be abundantly answered by our historian to 
whom you are soon to listen, and I will not consume the time 
which is necessary to complete these interesting exercises ; 
yet there is one topic upon which I will touch for a single mo- 
ment. The day we celebrate, as well as the dates upon the 
wall before you, seventeen hundred eighty-five, and eighteen 
hundred eighty-five, remind us that Heath first had its corpo- 
rate existence soon after the terrible struggle for independence 
had been brought to a successful issue by the original thirteen 
colonies, and this whole land had been freed from the domin- 
ion of England under George III. Heath then is one of the 
oldest fair daughters of our Great Republic. In her existence 
as a town she has never known the rule of King or Queen or 
Emperor, or any such thing, so that we who are her sons and 
daughters may rise in our might and with pride exclaim in 
the words of St. Paul," But I was free born." I will not 
encroach further upon time now so precious. Again, thanking 
you for the courtesies extended to us, I wish for this town of 
Heath continued peace and prosperity. 



Retrospection. 

UY MKS. C. W, MCCOY, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. 

Life is so grand, so beautiful, so full of meaning, so splendid in its oppor- 
tunities for action, so lioi)eful in its high results, that despite all its sor- 
rows, I would willingly live it over again. . J. G. Holland. 

My thoughts today are with the buried Past: 
I see Pleath's hills, mid which my youth ^vas cast; 
The old church with its glittering spire, 
KeMecting oft at eve Heaven's sun.set fire.— 
I hear the ruddy school boys' gleeful shout. 
And know 'tis four o'clock, and school is out. 

I see again our iiaslor's*' much lov'd face. 
And watch his stc]is full of majestic grace; 
The sonst who fell in manhood's earliest pi'ide 
Press as of yore close to their father's side; 
Ilis daughters, like to polish'd columns stand, 
The fairest and the best, in all our land. 

Yes, memory backward turns its magic glass: 
Good Doctor Emerson is riding slowly past. 
Wearied with his dull rounds among'the hills, 
His saddle bags well rill'd with drugs and pills. 
But ne'er too tired to speak in courteous phrase. 
To humblest child who meets him in his ways. 

A host come thronging o'er Life's youthful stage : 

Hastings is there — our grand old village sage; 

Good Deacon Dickinson with smiling eyes. 

Sits where the shadow of the pulpit lies; 

And Griswold forward steps with outsti'etcli'd hand; 

GriswoldJ the blithe — Griswold the teacher bland. 

Magnolia flowers bloom now above my head. 

And on the southern breeze their odors shed; 

A mocking bird, with curious, tuneful throat, 

Pours forth from cedar boughs its sweetest note. 

From youthful scenes, I've drifted far away, 

And in Life's warp are mingled, "Blue," and " Grey." || 

But I shall ne'er forget those grand old hills. 
With all their siiarkling, dashing, foaming rills, 
Those fields, white with the drifting winter snow, 
To which our fathers came, a hnndred years ayo — 
Came with the plowsjiare, gun, and fishing rod. 
While yet the Indians roamed the sod. 

Peace to their ashes! let them calmly rest. 
Dear Mother Earth, within thy hallowed breast; 
Plant the pale primrose o'er each peaceful head, 
And may night there, its purest dewdrops shed; 
Ours were the boons, to which a country wise aspires; 
Freedom to worship God — o race ofnohle sires. 



• Rev. .'\Iose9 Miller. 
t SpciH'er and Alexiiiuler. 
I Hon. NVhitinj; Griswold. 

||"Rlue" and"<;rey" were the uiiifonns worn during the late war. The 
writer had triends on both sides. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS 



BY 



JOHN H. THOMPSON, 

Of Chicago, Ills. 



This day is consecrated to the past. From the present 
with its failures and successes, from the future with its hopes 
and aspirations, we turn our eyes backward to the names hal- 
lowed in memory, to the lives that are finished, to the days 
that are gone. From the diverging paths into which our feet 
have strayed, we retrace our steps to the starting point. 
From the dust and turmoil of life's conflicts we turn aside to 
rest in the shadows of the everlasting hills, to walk again 
along the brookside and the shady ways, and to live over the 
years that are no more. 

From widely scattered homes, from the hillside and the val- 
ley, from the city and the country, from the prairie and the 
ocean, we come to these familiar scenes to revive the fading 
memories of other days, to do honor to the ashes in conse- 
crated urns, and, by the contemplation of the lives of those 
who have gone to their rest, to gather inspiration and strength 
for what remains to us of life's journey. 

There is no need of apology for the observance of this day 
as a town celebration. 

AVhen Old Mortality wanders through the churchyard to 
restore the inscriptions which are fading under the remorse- 
less tooth of time, we feel that it is an office most kindly to 
the living and the dead. 



10 

The past is full of instrucion, of warning, of encouragement 
and of inspiration. Especially important docs it seem to me 
that the towns of New England should preserve the lessons 
found in their histories. 

I regard the township system of New England as a work of 
the highest human wisdom. Tlie New England town is the 
best form of a Democracy to be found on earth. It is the 
realization of what President Lincoln styled "a government 
of the people, by the people and for the people." Recognizing 
its allegiance and obligations to the county, the state and the 
nation, the town is for the most purposes of government inde- 
jicndent. In the town meeting are settled by the people most 
matters of government which most nearly concern them. 
The town meeting is a school in which the duties of a citizen 
are taught, and it is a fortress where the citizen not only 
learns his duties, but stands ever on giiard to protect his 
rights. It may be that many of the questions settled in town 
meeting might be better settled by one good business man, 
free from the influences which sometimes sway a popular as- 
semblage ; but these questions are settled well enough by an 
intelligent people in town meeting. If errors are committed, 
the sober, second thought of the people will generally correct 
them, and the deliberation upon and settlement of these ques- 
tions is in itself a liberal education. I deem it important 
therefore to preserve this system of government, and to that 
ond to cherish and keep alive a proper pride in one's own 
town, and a lively interest in its history and achievements. 

Beautiful for situation is this town. At an elevation of 
about loOO feet above the sea, and extending on the southeast 
to tlie top of Pocumptuck, the highest point but one in the 
State, it commands in all directions wide and varied views of 
valley, hill and mountain. On the west, rise the Green Moun- 
tains with the giant Greylock towering above its neighbors. 
Away to the northward, Monadnock stands in serene majesty ; 
far away to the east, may be seen Wachusett ; on the south. 



11 

looking- across the fair valley of the Deerfiekl, the eye roams 
over and beyond the billowy Buckland hills and away down 
the Connecticut Valley, over scenes so beautiful that one 
might exclaim almost in the words of the pious old angler, 
'' Lord, what glory hast thou prepared for the saints in 
Heaven, since thou affordest ])ad men on earth such sights as 
these ! " Here the sun sinks into the west amid splendors 
not revealed to the dwellers in the valley or the city. From 
these hills gush countless springs that feed the swift streams 
that are ever flowing towards the sea. Roses, once watered 
by hands long since dust, are still blossoming by the roadside, 
and with each returning Spring fair flowers bloom on every 
hillside. But beyond the charms of nature are the associa- 
tions which cluster around these scenes. " These ever spring- 
ing flowers and ever flowing streams have been dyed by the 
deep colors of human endurance, valor and virtue." 

A restless and energetic race was that which braved the 
perils of the stormy Atlantic and undertook the settlement of 
this new world. As they landed on these shores the pioneers 
looked into a wilderness where a savage foe was lurking, and 
where every footstep was ])eset with danger. But " it is not 
with us," said John Robinson, " as with men whom small 
things can discourage." They had come not for ease and 
comfort, but to carry into and over a great continent the 
l)lcssings of civilization, lilierty and religion, and as the young- 
men grew up there was ever sounding in their ears the in- 
junction " go "West," long l^cfore it was uttered by the great 
New York Journalist. 

At an early day the settlers reached the valley of the Con- 
necticut, and, as they contended for its rich meadows, they 
were inclined to look upon the hills to the westward as only 
adapted to hunting and grazing. Soon, however, they fol- 
lowed up the Deerfiekl Valley and climbed the hills ; and the 
fair valleyo f thd Connecticut, attractive then, and with a thou- 
sand added charms today, was neither destined to be the 



12 

(";i|iu;i <•!' the Piluriiu.s, nor the Ixnnulaiy of advancing civili- 
izatidii. 

The (leneral Court of Massachusetts g-rantcd, June 27, 
1735, three townships in western Massachusetts to the town 
of Boston, in consideration of tlie payment by Boston of about 
one-fiftli of the colony tax and large sums for the support of 
schools and the poor. One of these townships, emln-acing the 
larger ])art of the town of Heath, the town of Charlemont 
and i)art of the town of Buckland, was named Boston 
Plantation No. 1. There were reserved 500 acres for the 
first minister, 500 acres lor the support of the ministry 
and 500 acres for the support of schools. Boston con- 
veyed this township to John Reed, July 14, 1737, and 
Reed conveyed soon after to John Checkle}^ and Gershom 
Keyes. The town afterwards was named Charlemont, and the 
])art now a i)art of Heath was known as Charlemont Hill. 
The north ])art of the town of Heath was long known as the 
Green iiml Walker Grant. This tract was granted to Joshua 
Green and Isaac Walker, two Boston men engaged in busi- 
ness in Boston under the style of Green and Walker. Dr. 
Samuel A. Green, a prominent physician, and recently mayor 
of Boston, is a great great grandson of this Joshua Green. 

Soon after the commencement of the war between England 
and France in 1744, the Massachusetts General Court built, at 
the exi>ensc of the colony. Fort Shirley in the East part of the 
town of Heath, Fort Pelham in Rowe and Fort Massachusetts 
in Adams, for the protection of the frontier, and raised 500 
men to garrison the new forts and strengthen the old ones. 
These forts were all under the charge of Capt. Ephraim Wil- 
liams of Deerlield, the gallant officer who afterwards fell near 
Lake George and gave the name to Williams College. 

Fort Shirley was situated ui)on the farm now owned liy Mr. 
Lovel Cook, and Avas a little to the west of the })resent road 
and house and upon ground sloping gently to the eastward 
for a short distance, and then descending to the north branch. 
A line elm now stands some 100 feet west of its site. 



13 

The fort was sixty feet square and built of logs. The well, 
curbed with planks and posts, and the flat stones, where the 
oven w^as built, may still be seen. The fort was provided with 
small iron or swivel guns. 

Lieut. John Catlin of Deerfield was for some time in com- 
mand. In 1747 Lieut. Catlin, Sergt. Allen, Corp. Atherton 
and thirty-eight soldiers were there. In 1748 Lieut. Catlin, 
Sergt. Allen, Corp. Lyman and thirty-two soldiers occupied 
the fort. The fort was occupied aljout nine years. 

Rev. John Norton, who was born in Berlin Ct., in 1716, 
graduated at Yale in 1737, and was ordained at Deerfield and 
settled in Bernardston in 1741, was chaplain for these forts 
and was for some time at Fort J^hirley. His daughter Anne 
died at Fort Shirley in 1746 and was buried at the fort. A 
stone which marked her grave has been recently removed to 
Williamstown. 

Rev. Mr. Norton, Dr. Williams and fourteen men left Fort 
Shirley Aug. 14, 1746, for Fort Massachusetts where they ar- 
rived the next day. Four days after. Fort Massachusetts was 
attacked by eight or nine hundred French and Indians under 
General De Yandrenil. Serg. John Hawks, afterwards Col. 
John Hawks of Deerfield, was in command of the fort, Ijut he 
had only twenty-two men and more than half of them were 
sick. He made a gallant defence through the ninteenth and 
part of the twentieth, but at last, when he had ]jut three 
pounds of powder left, surrendered, and the garrison with 
about a dozen women and children were taken prisoners to 
Canada. Mr. Norton kept a diary during the march to Can- 
ada and for about a year after, but it is mostly a sad record 
of the death of one after another of the captives in Canada. 
The survivors were redeemed and reached Boston al)out a year 
after the capture. 

Capt. Humphrey Hobbs, of Springfield, with forty men was 
on the march to Fort Shirley June 6, 1748, from a fort near 
Brattleboro. He had halted for rest and dinner when sud- 



14 

(Iciilv his unai'ds Avcrc driven in and he was attacked by about 
300 Indians led by a chief named Sackett, a half breed. 
Hobbs with great judgment posted his men behind the trees- 
and there was a hot jfight for four hours, when the Indians re- 
treated and left Hobbs to continue his march to Fort Shirley. 
Hobljs had but three men killed and three wounded. A large 
numl)er of Indians were seen to fall, and. when an Indian fell 
the body would be seen soon after sliding along the ground in 
a mysterious manner. Another Indian had crawled up, tied a 
rope around the body, and the Indians at the other end of the 
rope dragged the body off. Hobbs and Sackett were old ac- 
quaintances, and during the fight Sackett was calling upon 
Hobbs to surrender and making fearful threats. Hobbs had 
a stentorian voice and shouted back defiance and called upon 
him to come on. 

These were two of the most gallant fights recorded in the 
Indian wars, and they properly come within our jurisdiction, 
as the men in one case had just gone from, and in the other 
were marching to Heath. Men who had gone from or were 
going to any other place could hardly have been expected to 
have borne themselves so gallantly and well. 

During the peace, two men were left in charge of the fort. 
About the commencement of the second war, June 12, 1754, 
Gov. Phipps wrote to Col. Israel Williams that he must ar- 
range for the protection of forts Shirley and Pelham. It was 
represented that these forts were rotten and it was decided 
that they should be aljandoned and dismantled, the men Avith- 
draAvn, and the guns turned over to the Governor, which was 
done. Some years after, Col. Asaph White carried some of 
the timbers of Fort Shirley to his place, and they may still be 
seen in the barn of Mr, Orsamus Maxwell. The appearance 
of these timbers 130 years after they were represented to l)e 
rotten, is calculated to throw some suspicion upon the judg- 
ment of the officer Avho reported upon their condition. There 
was considcral)le controversy among military men at that 



15 

time as to the best places for the location of forts, and it is 
possible that the judgment of some may have been affected by 
their opinions that forts should be liuilt in other localities. 

In 1752 Jonathan White came to Charlemont, and at a meet- 
ino- of the proprietors, Jan. 17, 1753, was chosen one of the 
ofhcers, and in 1752 or 3, he cleared up a few acres, planted 
an orchard and built a house in the south part of Heath on 
the farm now owned by Orsamus IMaxwell, and a little to the 
northeast of the present building. 

Jonathan White was born in Lancaster Feb. 4, 1709, and 
was the eldest but one of a family of thirteen children. He 
was the son of Josiah White, and the great grandson of Jo- 
siah White who came from the west of England and settled 
in Lancaster. He married in 1732, Ellen AVilder, a daughter 
of Judge Joseph Wilder of Lancaster, and built a house in the 
north part of the town, now the town of Leominster, and is 
stated l)y the historian of Lancaster to have been " the great- 
est landholder, the most wealthy man, and the best educated 
person then in town." 

In the first French and Indian war Col. White commanded 
a military company in his town, and was actively engaged in 
defending the town from the attacks of the savages. When 
the second war commenced, he went back to Worcester 
county, and March 29, 1755, was commissioned captain in the 
Worcester regiment of Col. Ruggles, which marched for 
Crown Point. On the march northward Capt. White was 
promoted and made major, and before the end of the cam- 
paign he was made lieut-colonel. Col. White with his regi- 
ment was in the battle near Lake George Sept. 8, 1755. On 
the morning of that day in which many Itrave men from this 
country fell, Col. Ephraim Williams Avith his Hampshire Reg- 
iment was sent out on what is known as " The Bloody Morn- 
ing Scout." At a short distance they encountered the French 
and Indian army under Baron Duskan, an'd Col. Williams 
was killed while endeavoring to lead his men into a better po- 



16 

Hition, aud his re.sriment was driven l)ack with great loss upon 
the main hudy under Col. ^Villiani Johnson. The French 
Ihished witli suoeess, attacked Jolmson, l)ut after a hard fio-ht 
of four hours flic French Ketiulars were routed by the colo- 
nial trooj.s, and the distiniiuished French general was mor- 
tally wounded and taken prisoner. 

Col. White was commissioned colonel Feb. 18, 1756, and 
ordei-ed witli his regiment to Lake Champlain. He served to 
the end of the war, Avas in many Ijattles and won a high repu- 
tation as a gallant and capable officer. 

At tlie close of the war, Col. White found that the Indians 
had raided his place in the south part of this town, destroy- 
ing everything and even cutting down his orchard, excepting 
one ai^ijle tree, which remained and l^ore apples within the 
memory of the present generation. 

After Col. Jonathan White returned from the war, he lived 
most of the time at Lancaster, and often went back and forth 
from Lancaster to this town. On one occasion when on his 
way he reached Deerfield on Saturday and found he could not 
reach this town without encroaching upon the Sabbath, and 
so remained tliere. When the hour for worshij) came he en- 
tered tlie church with its high doors at all the pews, and 
walked along the aisle, luit no one recognized him or offered 
him a seat. The colonel turned aljout walked quietly out 
and, going to a woodpile, picked up a Ijlock of wood with 
which he walked up iu front of the pulpit and, placing it on 
the floor, occui)ied it as a seat during the services. In the in- 
terniission the peo])le discovered that the stranger was Col. 
White, and when the afternoon services commenced and the 
colonel arrived, every door was opened to him, but the stal- 
wart old colonel had come i-repared. He marched uj) to the 
aisle as if at the head of his regiment looking neither to the 
right n.,r thr l,.ft, with his block of wood under his arm, and 
took Ins tornici- place in front of the jnilpit. 

Col. White died Dec. 4, 1788, in his eightieth year and his 



17 

wife died eleven days before. The remains of both lie in the 
South Burying Ground among kindred dust of later genera- 
tions. This Ijurying ground was donated to the town by Col. 
White in 1771. 

Col. White's oldest son, Jonathan, graduated at Harvard in 
1763 and became a physician. His three sons David, James 
and Asaph all settled here soon after the close of the war, and 
some years later Col. Jonathan White passed the latter years 
of his life here with his children. 

David White settled near the foot of Meeting House Hill, 
and the first town meeting in the town of Charlemont was 
held in 1765 at his house, and about two years later David 
was drowned in the Deerfield River. 

Deacon James White settled a little south of the South 
Schoolhouse. He was chosen in 1765 the first town treasurer 
of Charlemont. He Avas long a leading citizen of this town, 
prominent in church and town affairs, and died here in 1824 
aged eighty. 

Col. Asaph White, Col. Jonathan White's youngest son, 
was a man of remarkable executive and business ability. He 
was born in 1747 and married Lucretia Bingham, a near rela- 
tive of Hiram Bingham the missionary. He was connected 
with almost every enterprise of a public nature in this region. 
He built the turnpike across Hoosac Mountain, the Second 
Massachusetts Turnpike, known for years as Col. White's 
Turnpike, also the turnpike from Athol to Boston called the 
Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike. He built a clothing mill in 
Mill Hollow and manufactured woolen cloth, and Ijuilt many 
roads and public buildings. 

He lived first and built the house, on the place afterwards 
sold by him to Col. Maxwell, and later on the old place just 
north of the South Schoolhouse, where his father first settled. 
About 1800 he removed to Erving and was the first settler of 
that town, building there a house, a mill, and a dam across 
Miller's River. The founding of a town was but an ordinary 



18 

enterprise lor a man of Col. AVhlte's energy, and having given 
the new town a good start lie retiir)K'd to Ilcath and dicd\cre 
at the age of eiglity-ono, Sept. 18, 1828. 

Deaeoii David Wliite, tlie oldest son of Col. Asaj.h, married 
a datigliter of Jonatlian Ashley, a lawyer of Deerfickl, and 
lived (,n the old homestead, and died in 1851, aged seventy- 
seven. Lueretia B.. a daughter of Deacon David White, mar- 
rie.l Ezra Lamh, and now lives at 8t. Paul at the age of 
eighty-llN-e. She was the mother of Rev. Ezra E. Lamb, who 
graduated at Wesleyan University, Ohio, in 1858, and was a 
very popular i)reacher in Ohio and Western Massachusetts. 
He died a few years since at Agawam. Deacon David White 
left the old place to his son Joseph who died in 18(31. 

The second son of Col. Asaph White, Joseph, settled in 
Charlemont and died in 1840. He was the father of Hon. Jo- 
sei.h White, a very eminent lawyer, who was for manv years 
secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, and is now 
treasurer of Williams College. 

Asaph, another son of Col. Asaph White, graduated at Wil- 
liams, and was a teacher in Western Xew York where he died 
many years ago. 

Ca])t. Benjamin Wliite, who died in 1817 at the ao-e of 
seventy-one, and was the ancestor of another large famdy of 
Whites, came here in the early years, and was a" prominent 
man in town affairs. 

Jonathan Taylor came to East Charlemont with his l)rother 
Othniel in 1740. Jonathan Taylor was a great grandson of 
John l^aylor, who came from England in 1639 and settled at 
Windsor, Ct., in 1640, and a grandson of Capt. John Taylor 
wh.. went to Northampton in 1660, and was activelv cno-aged 
in the early Indian wars. 

Jonathan Taylor was born in Deerlield in 1724. His 
brother Othniel Ijought 1000 acres of land in East Charle- 
mont and Buekland, Nov. 1, 1742, and Jonathan bouuht an 
undivuled (piarter of the tract. The two brothers built houses 



19 

and enclosed them with a fort, and l)oth lived there until 
about 1757, when Jonathan sold out to his brother. 

About that time Jonathan Taylor, who was employed in sur- 
veying and had looked over the region, took a fancy to the 
swamp altout three-quarters of a mile east of the centre of the 
town of Heath. He thought it was like the rich meadow^ 
lands of Deerficld and the Connecticut Valley, and bought 
about 100 acres including the swamp and extending up the 
higher land to the south, and built a log house a little to the 
north of the present road and where the cleared land extends 
back towards the swamp. The house was built of round logs 
locked at the angles. The roof was of hemlock bark, and 
planks split out of logs formed the floor. The chimney was 
built of stones laid without mortar, and there was not a nail 

in the house. 

Mr. Taylor set out an orchard near his house, but for sev- 
eral years he did not succeed in raising either corn or rye, 
the g-round was so cold and wet. He had not a neighljor for 
a mimljer of years. He had two sons and two daughters, and 
his wife lived in great fear of the Indians. When Mr. Taylor 
was away Mrs. Taylor kei)t one of the little lioys at the top of 
the house on the lookout. One day young Jonathan, who had 
never read the story with which boys of later times are familiar, 
of the unhappy Ijoy who cried " wolf " when there was no 
wolf, undertook to amuse himself by coming down and calling 
out " Indians 1 " One of the girls fainted, the other ran into 
the cellar, and in the end the only thing the boy had to con- 
gratulate himself upon was that he escaped with a sound 
whipping and was not eaten up by wolves. 

:Mr. Taylor brought his supplies monthly from Deerfield, 
taking a route over or near Pocumptuck, and in later years he 
used to relate that when on his return he came up over the 
hills, some two or three miles away, he Avould hear the voice 
of his wife as she stood at the entrance to his log hut calling 
" Tavlor," " Taylor." Mrs. Taylor had doulitless good lungs, 



20 

for it is recorded of her that she cultivated her fine conversa- 
tional ]K)wers l.y conversinu" with the forest trees about her, 
I'ut it is hardly credible that her voice could have reached 
8uch a distance over forest, hill and Aalley. But " there were 
voices in the air" more than a hundred years aero. The old 
inowcv was doubtless gifted with something of that fine sense 
whirh,to the old rxreek,made the forest and mountain vocal 
with a thousand voices, and as the murmur of the forest, the 
whistling of the winds and the varied sounds came to his'ear, 
his fine sense, and loyal heart, led him to fancy it was the fa- 
miliar voice to which he had listened in courtship days and 
curtain lectures, calling him to his home. 

In after years Mr. Taylor built a substantial frame house 
and Ijarn on the old road leading to Colrain, and died Feb. 
22, 1801, at the age of seventy-six. His wife Lucy died the 
following year, aged seventy-eight. His son Jonathan occu- 
pied the old homestead, and died in 1835, aged seventv-seven 
His grandson, Jonathan H. Taylor, lived sometime on the old 
J.lace and then removed to the West. Two of the sons of 
Jonathan Taylor 2d, Thomas and Samuel, became phvsicians 
and practised their professions for manv vears, but are now 
dead. A daughter of Jonathan Taylor 2d married John 
1 em],le, lived near the centre of the town, and was the mother 
oi three ]»hysicians. 

Charlem..nt was incorporated in 1765, and Jonathan Tavlor 
was (,ne o{ the first board of selectmen. Up to this time'the 
affairs of the township were managed l)v the proprietors, who 
held meetings and elected officers much after the manner of 
town meetings. 

The people were early supplied with preaching bv several 
different clergymen, one of whom, Kev. C. ^L Smith " preached 
^40 worth," as apj)ears by his order dated Oct. 24, 1753, and 
Moses Rice was allowed £4, 4s. for " keeping the ministers." 

I hey undertook to l)uild a meeting-house and raised the 
irame of it in the south part of the present town of Heath 



21 

in or about 1752 ; and in 1753 and 1754 committees were ap- 
pointed and attempts made to enclose and finish the house, 
but the war came on, many of the settlers were driven away, 
and the frame remained unfinished. In 1761-2, meetings were 
held to arrange for completion of the building, but it was 
found that the frame was damaged by standing so long unen- 
closed, and the result was that June 27, 1762, an agreement 
was made with Thomas Dick in which he agreed to set up a 
frame in the i)lace where the old one was standing, to cover 
the outside with chamfered boards and the roof with boards 
and shingles, to put up weather Ijoards, to lay the lower 
floor with boards on sleepers or joice well supported, and to 
complete the same by the last day of Septeml)er, 1762, it 
being provided that '' the proprietors were to find boards, nails 
and shingles and rum, for the raising." 

This Imilding was finished and a church was formed, and 
in 1767 the Rev. Jonathan Leavitt was settled as pastor. He 
was to receive £100 settlement and £50 a year salary, with 
provisions for an increase of salary with the increase of fami- 
lies, until it might amount to £80 a year. Here Mr. Leavitt 
preached for a" number of years, the people coming from a 
wide extent of country including the present towns of Heath, 
Charlemont, Buckland and Hawley. The Rev. Moses Miller 
savs : " Some came on horseback, some on foot for miles 
around, carrying their infant children in their arms, some 
waded, some forded, and some lioatcd the rapid Deerfield, or 
crossed on its frozen waters. Some came on sleds, perhaps a 
few in sleighs, but none ever came in anything like the vehi- 
cles of the present day. They had no cushions to be seated 
upon, but a rough hard board and no Ijack to lean against, 
and they had at that time long prayers and long sermons." 

Rev. Jonathan Leavitt was born in Sutfield, Ct., Jan. 22, 
1731, graduated at Yale in 1758, and by his first wife, Miss 
Saraii Hooker, of Farmington, Ct., had one daughter and 
seven sons. 



90 



II'- was a man ..f fm,. apiicaraiice, ocnerallv wore a oreat 
^Uiitr wi.o- and a cockcl liat, was a oc„tlcmaii in his manners, 
li-spital.h' in his home and a Christian in his life. His scr- 
>n..iis w.-rr sonicwliat ,1,t and didactic Imt sound and ai,le 
Ills prayers wcie usually al.out an hour Ion- and his sermons 
nl convsi,..ndino- proportions. It was the custom in those 
<iays i..r tl.o j.eople to rise and bow as Ur. Leavitt walked up 
to the ].ulj,lt. For twelve years he seems to have preached to 
the o-eueral satisfaction of the people from all the reoion 
round about. In the time of the Revolution, the people fomid 
.u-reat dil!iculty m raising his salary. Part of it was paid in 
< <'|.ivo,atcd i>a],cr money. In 1778 a difficulty arose between 
<!.<' town of Charlemont and Mr. Leavitt. It seems to have 
'H-,o-mated in a re.juest of Mr. Leavitt for an increase of sal- 
ary, If If was to he imid in depreciated paper money. The 
touii proposed to pay the salary as it had been agreed in 
produce and property, according to a scale of prices ; grass 
1.00 at .^2, and stall fed beef at $S per hundred, wheat at four 
shillings, rye at three shillings and corn at two shillino-s and 
.s.xpen(.-c a bushel, and other articles in same proportion. 
Mr. Leavitt seemed reluctant to accept this arrangement, and 
alter several town meetings and some angry deljate, it was 
voted that, until matters could be settled with Mr. Leavitt on 
an amicable l)asis, they would make no further provision for 
h>s support, and that they would close the meetin-house 
wb.Hi was accordingly done by the constable under dh-cction' 
ol the se ectmen. Mr. Leavitt then preached for about five 
years m the South Schoolhouse to pcoi,le mostly livino- in the 
present town of Heath, and after the incorporation of" Heath 
Mv. Leavitt brought suit against the towns of Heath and 
Charlemont and recovered <£500 for salary and £200 for loss 
Irom paynu«nt in depreciated paper. The town of Heath had 
son... dilhniKy uill. Mr. Leavitt about taxes, but it resulted in 
tlie tou-n releasing him from the taxes, and making an ao-ree- 
luent with him for the payment of the juda-ment, so far as it 



23 

belonged to this toAvn to pay, in cattle and prodnce upon an 
agreed scale of prices. 

In 1801 Mr. Leavitt published a volume on the " New Cove- 
nant and the Church's duty." Mr. Leavitt died in Heath, 
Sept. 9, 1802, aged seventy-one, and is buried in the South 
Burying Ground. 

Hon. Jonathan Leavitt of Greenfield was a son of Rev. 
Jonathan Leavitt. He graduated at Yale in 1786, married a 
daughter of President Stiles, of Yale College, and settled in 
Greenfield about 1790. He was a prominent lawyer, a sena- 
tor, Judge of Probate and Associate Justice of the old Court 
of Common Pleas in Franklin County. In the first court held 
in Franklin County, March 9, 1812, Judge Leavitt sat as As- 
sociate Justice. He died at Greenfield in 1830 at the age of 
sixty-six. 

Hooker Leavitt, another son, was admitted to the bar in 
1811, and was from 1815 for a long series of years Register 
of Deeds and County Treasurer for Franklin County. He died 
Nov. 1, 1812. 

Dr. Roswell Leavitt, another son, Avas a physician in Cor- 
nish, N. H., and was the father of Rev. Jonathan Leavitt 
D.D. who graduated at Amherst in 1825, was settled in Provi- 
dence, R. I., was long an eminent divine m New England, and 
died in 1877. 

Many settlers came to the Hill as it Avas called, or the pres- 
ent toAvn of Heath, prior to the Revolution. Some of them 
bought lands and could not pay for them, and sold out and 
went aAvay. Some of them Avent into the army, so that but 
fcAV of these early settlers remained. William Buck in 1773, 
bought a place Avith a house and some improvements a little 
to the west of the centre of the toAvn. He Avas one of the 
original members of the church in Heath, and died in 1801, at 
the age of seventy-five. His Avife Mary died four years later 
at the age of eighty-one. He Avas the father of Lieut. William 
Buck, who died in 1839 at the age of eighty-four, and the 



24 

^rnndfatlwr „f Luther an<l AVinsIow Buck, wlio were all ,,rom- 
lucut citiz.-us of the town. 

Kjirlv in 1773 came Huo^h Mnxw-ll, who has left a record as 
a sohher, a c.t.zen and a Christian, of which any town mic^ht 
l»e )»roud. " '^^ 

,,","f ■^fT';"";'^'"■"' '■" -^li"l-l""-.i, Tyrone Co., Irc- 
a ., , Apnl 2, , S. 1733. ili. ,,tl,e,- of tho same na^e, a 
I iotesta.it, came to this countr,- i„ 1733 «-ith his wife, Hu-'h 

I.o<lfo .1, Mass. Hugh studied surveying, but rten the 
Preueh and Ind.an war commenced in 1754, he enlisted in 
ho army, and served through five campaigns to the end of 
Ih.'uar. IJcvas in the l.attle near Lake Georo-e in 1755 
and n, Fort WiRian, Henry when it ,vas surrendered to S 
French m 17o0. After tl>e surrender, when the Indians m 
"\"'<' I ■<■ garnson nn«-dcring many. Maxwell was seized bv 
son.e Indians who strip,,ed hi™ of everything but his pata"- 
oons, when he sli,,ped from their hands, seized a musket and 
'-" <"»,,rds Fort Edward which he reached in safetv He 
was counu,ss,oned ensign in Ruggles Regiment, Mai'ch 81, 
I^jO. At the end of the war, he married Miss Bridget Mon- 
roe, of Lcxmgton, Mass., and resumed his surveying and 
tarmmg Soon after coming to this town he bought of Col 
Asaph Wh.te the farm of seventy acres, now own^d by Wm' 
M Maxwell, h,s grandson, for ^90. There were a few acres 
c cared, and a house, somewhat better than most of the houses 
sta mhng some distance to the west of the present buildings 

l/e was clcctcl meml,er of the First Provincial Conarcss 

0, -h was convened at Salem, Oct. 7, 1774, and to,A an 

aol.u part m the controversies between the colonies and En<.- 

n"' . II.. was one of the few men in the region who took°a 

'■"SI".. ...'M.spaper, and he was a diligent reader of all the 

l;;;;"I . ■ s ol ,he tin.e. U was owing fargeb' to his infli* 

"1 ad, c cllo,.fs,that the people of this town and vicinity 

»c.c nu.ted n, resistance to the encroachments of the mother 



'10 

country, and that in the Revohition there Avas not a Tory in 
the town. The Provincial Congress provided for forming and 
arming com])anies of Minute Men, and when CoL Maxwell re- 
turned homo, he assisted in raising a comi)any, and Oliver Avery 
was chosen captain, and Maxwell lieutenant. When tidings 
came of the fight at Lexington and Concord, the company 
marched forthwith to Cambridge, Maxwell leaving his wife 
and six young children, the youngest, born the day after the 
fight at Lexington, hardly a week old. 

At Cambridge, May 26, 1775, Maxwell Avas made captain of 
the company, Avhich became the Second Company in the regi- 
ment of that gallant soldier. Col. William Prcscott. Some 
fifteen of the men were from Rowe. 

The night before the battle of Bunker Hill, when Prescott's 
men commenced work on the entrenchments, Capt. Maxwell 
was sent Avith a small detachment to patrol the shore near 
the old ferry, and to watch the enemy. The ships of Avar Avere 
moored in the stream close l)y, and on the other shore the En- 
glish sentinels Avere Avalking back and forth. Prescott Avas 
very solicitous lest the enemy shoidd discover the movements, 
and tAvice during the night came to the place where Capt. 
]\Iaxwell Avas keeping his vigilant Avatch, and we can fancy 
the officers exchanging a grim smile as they stood on the 
shore and heard from the ships of Avar the droAvsy cry, " All is 
Avell." 

When the ships of Avar and batteries opened fire in the 
morning, one of MaxAvell's men, Aaron Barr of RoAve, Avas 
struck with a cannon shot, and was the first Avounded man 
brought from the field to Cambridge. 

l\\ that first great Ijattle of the Revolution, Avhen the Brit- 
ish Regulars Avere tAvice routed and driven Ijack by the Mas- 
sachusetts farmers, there Avere no men who did better service 
than the company from these hills. 

In the last fierce onset, Avhen the provincial troops had ex- 
hausted their ammunition, and had onlv the butts of their 



26 

muskets Avitli whicli to meet their foes, Capt. Maxwell stood 
at his i)ost to the last. Conspicuous among his men as he cn- 
courau'cd them to hold their position, the fighting captain was 
a mark for the British grenadiers as they mounted the re- 
doul)t. One of them singled out the captain and fired down 
u})on him at a distance of a few feet. The ball entered near 
the collar l)one, passed through his right shoulder and came 
out Itelow his shoulder 1)lade. His right arm fell powerless 
at his side ; then Prescott gave the order to retreat, and as the 
men fell l)ack, Capt. Maxwell coolly walked a little distance 
through the flying bullets, picked up his coat, and came off 
with his men as they slowly and sullenly retreated towards 
Cambridge. 

His wound was very serious ; nine pieces of bone were ex- 
tracted from his shoulder, and for some time his life was in 
great danger. In September he was able to return to his 
family, and he spent some six weeks with them. He then 
had a shed l)uilt for his stock, two cows, a horse and a few 
sheeis and arranged for a supply of wood, and then left' to 
join the army. He was engaged in the operations on Long 
Island and in the vicinity of New York, in August and Sep- 
tember, 1776, and was in the battles at Trenton and Prince- 
ton. In the spring of 1777 the brigade to which he Ijelongcd 
was sent North to resist the advance of Burgoyne, and Capt. 
Maxwell fought at Bennington, Stillwater and Saratoga. In 
November, 1797, he joined the Southern army and shared the 
hardships of Valley Forge, and in June, 1778, he was in the 
battle of Monmouth. 

In 1777, Capt. Maxwell was promoted to the rank of major, 
and in 1770 he was i)laced under the command of Maj.-Gen. 
AVilliam Heath who was in command on the Hudson River. He 
was sometime after made lieut.-colonel, and was for a long 
time actively engaged in command of outposts, and distin- 
guished himself in several skirmishes and attacks on posts. 
In a jirivate letter to him written sometime after the war, 



27 

Gen. Heath writes, " I well know your long and faithful ser- 
vices in the army, and how often I have slept without appre- 
hension of being surprised Ijecause you guarded the outpost, 
and I knew that the enemy would not be allowed to evade 
your vigilance." 

Xcar the close of the war he was looking forward to peace 
and a return to the duties of a citizen, and his mind was 
deeply interested in the matters of the continental currency 
and the payment of the debt incurred by the war. In some 
letters written at this time to a friend, a prominent Massachu- 
setts man, Col. Maxwell wrote : 

" You may well think that I have grown weary of the fa- 
tigue of the camp ; but I am far from having the most distant 
wish to leave the work till it is finished (as I trust it will l)e), 
with glory and advantage to America. No ! old and almost 
worn out as I am, my wish is to share in the remaining hard- 
ships and dangers of the war. The debt contracted by the 
war must be paid, sooner or later, and the sooner the l^etter. 
It is likely that some individuals who have collected vast 
sums of money by trade of late cannot be come at to be taxed. 
Some such may, and it is likely will escape without paying 
their proportions of the public charge. Let them go. It is, 
I think, punishment enough on a man to reflect that his coun- 
try is saved from ruin without his help, and that he by his 
monopoly and extortion has made use of all his power to sell 
it to destruction." 

In the spring of 1784, Col. Maxwell returned to his home, 
and was sent to Boston to secure an incorporation of the new 
town to be set off from Charlemont. He secured the act of 
incorporation with the assistance of his old commander. Gen. 
Heath, after whom the new town was named. Col. Maxwell 
was moderator of the first town meeting, and one of the first 
board of selectmen. After a hundred years have passed away, 
it is pleasant to see that a great-grandson, bearing the same 
name, fills the same honorable ofiice. Col. Maxwell was 
made a memljer of the Society of the Cincinnati. 



28 

In 1788-0, Col. ^Maxwell was employed to survey the 
line from Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario, and in the survey 
and location of several towns in Western Xew York, Then 
he wrote to his family from a i)lace around which are now 
flourishing cities and countless church spires : " I long to see 
you all, and I long to attend your public worship. You know 
that David wished and prayed to see the House of God and 
his worship, and why should not I ? But here I am ; where 
in the woods I see nobody but the four or five men who at- 
tend me. xVnd yet I do think that the Great Governor of the 
Universe is about to plant the glorious gospel in this wilder- 
ness. May it soon spread over this land." 

Col. Maxwell afterwards became embarrassed, from being 
unable to collect two large sums of money which he had 
loaned, and undertook to retrieve his fortunes by shipping 
horses to the West Indies, and on the voyage home he was 
seized with a fever and died at sea, Oct. 14, 1799, aged sixty- 
six. 

]\Iiss Priscilla Maxwell, who died at Heath, in 1851, at the 
age of eighty-four, was a daughter of Col. Hugh Maxwell, and 
in 1833, published an interesting memoir entitled " The 
Christian Patriot." 

Lieut. Hugh Maxwell, a son of Col. Maxwell, lived on the 
old homestead and was a prominent citizen of the town, and 
died Feb. 23, 1849, at the age of seventy-nine. Lieut. Hugh 
Maxwell and William Munroe Maxwell succeeded to the mem- 
bership in the Society of the Cincinnati. 

Dr. Henry Maxwell, a son of Lieut. Hugh Maxwell, died in 
1856, at Lockport, N. Y., where he practised medicine for 
many years. Two other sons, Hugh and Charles, studied 
medicine ; one of them was in Amherst College, but both died 
young. Hon. Sylvester Maxwell of Charlcmont, the young- 
est son of Col. Hugh Maxwell, graduated at Yale in 1797, and 
was long known throughout the county as an upright and 
good laAvyer, and a useful citizen. A granddaughter of Hon. 



29 

Sylvester Maxwell is gathering manv laurels in the fields of 
literature. 

Lieut. Benjamin Maxwell came to this town in 1775, and 
bought a place just south of the centre of the town. The 
place had been improved ])y William Brown, and had a small 
frame house with barns and fruit trees. 

Lieut. Maxwell was a Ijrother of Col. Hugh Maxwell, born 
in 1737 at Bedford. He served in the French and Indian 
war, and in tlie campaign of 1758 was in Major Roger's 
Rangers. He was also lieutenant in a company of Minute 
men in 1775. In 1778 he was one of the selectmen of the 
town of Charlemont, and he was always an active and leading 
citizen. He died in Heath, Feb. 2, 1829, aged ninety-two. 
Miss Anna Maxwell, his daughter, wrote in the latter years of 
her life a history of Heath, and died in 1851, aged eighty-five. 

Capt. Benjamin Maxwell, son of Lieut. Benjamin ^faxAvell, 
was a prominent citizen of the town, and died in 1854, aged 
eighty-three. 

Alexander Park Maxwell, another son of Lieut. Ben. Max- 
well, settled in Charlemont, and was widely known in the 
county as a magistrate and leading man. He died in 1861, 
aged seventy-eight. 

During the Revolution few settlers came to the town. All 
the able Iwdied men were in the army, and their families suf- 
fered great privations and hardships. Miss Priscilla Maxwell 
described the situation of her father's family. The boys were 
too young to work. All depended upon the mother and the 
oldest girl, about ten years old. Col. Maxwell built a barn 
where the buildings now stand, a long way from the house. 
They went through deep and drifting snow some distance for 
water, and to take care of the stock in the barn. They went 
seven miles to get a bushel of grain, and then carried it five 
miles to have it ground. The other families were in a similar 
situation. During the war several disaljled soldiers were sent 
from the army, and these furnished some help to the dis- 
tressed families. 



30 

In 1777 an cj)idemic ])rcvailcd along" the river and on the 
hill, which was thought to have heen brought from the camp 
by the soldiers who came to help, and many died. Three 
sons and two daughters of Cai)t. Avery died at this time. 

At the close of the war and about the time of the incorpo- 
ration of Heath, many new settlors came. ^Most of them were 
young married men. The pioneer came the first summer pro- 
vided with an axe, a lu'ush-scythe, a shovel and a hoe. Se- 
lecting a ]>lace for his dwelling, the forest trees were soon lev- 
elled about it, a little cellar dug, and a log cabin l)uilt. A 
piece of ground was cleared uj>, the logs rolled in piles, the 
brush burned, a patch scratched over with the hoe and sown 
to rye, and another prepared to plant with corn and potatoes. 
Then the pioneer went back to the place he had come from, 
to build castles through the winter ; and in the spring he 
came, driving a yoke of oxen with a cart containing his house- 
hold goods, his wife with a baby in her arms riding a horse, 
and a cow tied to the cart following behind. Then came 
years of toil and hardship. The barn was to be built, the 
fences made, the orchard set out. Each year a new piece of 
land was cleared and sowed or planted, old stumps were dug 
out, walls liuilt, and the farm brought under better cultivation. 
Then came the building of a frame house with its heavy tim- 
bers and huge chimney, containing bricks enough to have 
built an ordinary brick house. By this time the pioneer had 
many neighbors about him, and all came to the raising. The 
one essential thing about a raising was a liberal su])ply of 
New England rum, and the occasion was one, not only of 
neighborly kindness, Init of great social enjoyment. There is 
this to be said of the liquor : it was a good genuine article, 
the people of that day not having learned to adulterate liquors 
in the way much villainous stuff of a later day is compounded. 
After the temperance reform in later years, when a man, at 
the instance of his l)ettcr half, undertook to raise a building 
without rum, the timbers moved very slowly and not without 
much gruml»ling and strong suspicions of inhospitality. 



31 

The houses of nearly all the first settlers were of logs, and 
generally contained two rooms. The house which Col. Asaph 
White sold to Col. Maxwell, was of logs, but had a frame and 
was boarded upon the inside. This was a kind of extrava- 
gance for those days. The most expensive items in building 
were nails and glass. The nails were usually hammered out 
in a blacksmith's shop, and the glass was sometimes omitted 
entirely; an opening which could be closed in stormy weather 
doing duty as a window. 

The first road was built about 1765, from the river up 
through the south part of the town, and, as it approached the 
present centre, keeping a little to the west of the road now 
used, and it was extended east over Nims' Hill and soon after 
west towards Rowe. 

The early roads generally ran straight over all the hills in 
their way. This was not, as some have supposed, because 
their builders believed that the bail of a kettle was shorter 
when standing up than when lying down, but because in the 
early days the low lands were very wet, so that the first set- 
tlers built where it was high and dry, and then the roads were 
built to accommodate the houses. Some of the old settlers, 
too, held the opinion, in which I Ijelieve myself, that it is 
easier to walk over a hill than to go the same distance on a 
level ; for the reason that in going up and down a hill differ- 
ent muscles are brought in use, while in going on a level there 
is a continuous strain on one set of muscles. 

It appears that at least two of our early settlers were slave- 
holders. There remains among the papers of Lieut. Benj. 
Maxwell a bill of sale, dated April 27, 1767, by which Nathan- 
iel Dunkelle sold to Benjamin Maxwell a negro child about 
twelve months old, for X6, 13s., 4p. This was a small one, 
but Jonathan Taylor had a bill of sale, dated in 1771, by which 
Daniel Ames of Deerfield sold to him " one negro man named 
Titus, aged 31 years," for twenty shillings. The bill of sale 
states that the seller bought the property of Samuel Smith of 



32 

Hatfield. There was a general warranty in caeli bill of sale, 
l)ut no abstract of title appears to have been furnished, and 
from the consideration expressed, especially in the latter one, 
it would seem probable that neither party had much coufi- 
dence in the validity of the title to a human Ijeing, in the ab- 
sence of any evidence of title derived from the Almighty. 
What became of these slaves does not appear. I imagine, that 
at the time of his i)urchasc, Mr. Taylor had l^ecome very tired 
of transporting his supplies from Deerfield, and that he loaded 
up Titus with a bag of meal and started him for the hills, and 
that about the time he reached the foot of the hills, Titus be- 
came discouraged, and ran away, and Mr. Taylor charged up 
the twenty shillings to ju'ofit and loss. At any rate there 
does not appear to be any evidence that any slave l)reathed 
the free air of these hills. 

Among the settlers of about this time was Dea. John Brown, 
who was one of tlic first selectmen of Heath, and one of the 
first deacons of the church. He came from Sterling, and was 
the son of a clergyman. He died in Heath in 1828, at the 
age of 84. Dr. Jonas Brown, a son of Dea. John Brown, was 
many years a physician in Cazenovia, N. Y. Daniel Brown, 
a son of Dea. John Brown, died in 1853, aged 81, and one of 
liis sons, Dr. Harrington Brown, became a physician. Pele- 
tiah Smith came from Amherst about this time. He was 
the father of Moses Smith, who married a daughter of Dea. 
John Brown, and was the father of Rev. Lowell Smith, who 
was born in Heath in 1802, graduated at Williams in 1827, 
and went soon after as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands, 
where he l)uilt u]) a church of some 1200 memljers, and has 
labored with great success through a long life. Another son 
of Moses Smith, Frederick G. Smith, resides in Greenfield, 
and is now county commissioner. Dea. John Brown reared a 
family of thirteen children, who gi-ew up to mature years, and 
filled stations of usefulness. There are now living 88 of his 
«Tandchildren. 



33 

Aaron Smith was a son Peletiah Smith, and was father of 
Aaron Smith 2d, who was born in 1798, lived from 1835 a 
little south of the common, and was for many years town 
clerk and treasurer. He died in 1881. A son of Aaron 
Smith 2d, Henry K. Smith, is a civil engineer in Philadelphia ; 
and a grandson, Edward P. Guild, is a journalist in Boston. 

Lieut. Eli Gould, came from Amherst, and settled here 
aljout this time, and died in 1818 at the age of 81. He was 
the father of Dea. Eli Gould and of Capt. David Gould who 
were prominent citizens, and the latter of whom died in 1869 
at the age of 72. Capt. Gould reared a large family, and 
many of his children and their descendants are in this town 
and vicinity. 

Stephen Thompson came in 1781 from Milford, and settled 
in the south-east part of the town. He had served in the 
Revolution. He died in 1859 at the age of 95. His oldest 
son, Eufus, was one of the early settlers in the north part of 
the town. Another son, Luther Thompson, lived on the old 
homestead, and died in 1863, at the age of 78. The only sur- 
viving child of Stephen Thompson is Rev. John C. Thompson, 
who graduated at Amherst in 1829, was settled as pastor in 
Rowe, Goshen, and other places, and now resides at Holyoke. 
The descendants of Stephen Thompson are now scattered 
through as many as ten states from Maine to Kansas. 

Thomas Harrington came here about the same time, and 
was for many years town clerk. His son Cassius settled in 
the east part of the town, and Timothy B. Harrington in the 
south part on the place where, in latter years, John Bur- 
rington has lived. 

Thomas B. Harrington, a son of Timothy B. Harrington, 
graduated at Princeton in 1819, was a successful teacher, and 
was about entering the ministry when he was stricken down 
by early death. Brainard T. Harrington, another son, gradu- 
ated at Amherst in 1852, married a granddaughter of Dea. 
Sullivan Taft, and has, for many years, been a teacher in 
West Chester, X. Y. 



34 

Thomas Bond scttlcil lu-re aliout this time. He was in a 
doiihle sense a soldici- of tlic Revi)lution. lie was one of 
Burgoyne's men. 

After the Ijattle of Stillwater, some of Burgoyne's troops 
had huilt a bridge with a view to a retreat. Capt. McClellan, 
with his Colcrain Company, was sent to destroy the bridge, 
and on their return, surrounded a small company of 31 En- 
glish soldiers, and after a sharp fight the English were all 
killed but two. Bond and a man named Harris, who surren- 
dered. The merits of the controversy were presented so 
clearly by Capt. McClellan to the prisoners, that they forth- 
with enlisted in Capt. McClcllan's company, and served with 
him during the rest of the war. Then Bond came home with 
McClellan, came to this town, married, and in 1791 l)ccame 
the father of James Bond, Avho was afterwards known as the 
most persistent litigant of Franklin County. 

I do not think he was a very bad man, at least I have 
known much worse men among the frequenters of courts, but 
he was tenacious of all his rights. He would carry a suit 
about a boundary line involving the title to an acre or two of 
land worth 810 an acre to the court of last resort, and by the 
time it was ended he would have made out of it a Pandora 
box from which he would let loose a whole brood of other 
suits. At last the juries of Franklin County l)eeame so pre- 
judiced against him on account of his frequent appearance 
before them, that he had no more chance of Avinning a suit 
before a jury than a railroad company of this day. Then he 
removed to Iowa, and it is safe to assume that he contributed 
his part to settle the law of that great state upon sound and 
correct legal principles. 

I have a suspicion from the name that Capt. McClellan's 
other ])risoner settled in this vicinity. I have forborn prose- 
cuting inquiries on the subject as I have no desire to add to 
the captain's responsibilities, but it seems not unlikely that in 
not sparing some other men among his enemies instead of 



35 

these two, the gallant captain luiikled worse than he had an}^ 
idea of. 

The act of incorporation of the town of Heath was passed 
Feb. 14, 1785. The first town meeting was held March 21, 
1775. The warrant was issned by Samuel Taylor, J. P., at 
Buckland, March 14, 1785 and directed to Asahel Thayer. 

Col. Hugh Maxwell Avas chosen moderator, James White 
clerk, Hugh Maxwell, Asaph White and John Brown, select- 
men, and Benjamin White, tithingman. 

The toAvn at first chose one tithingman, a little later two, 
and still later three. They were uniformly men of high 
standing and character, like Col. Roger Leavitt, Dea. David 
White and T. B. Harrington. The increase in the number 
would indicate an increase in duties. The duties of the tith- 
ingman were to keep order in church, to keep the boys quiet, 
and to wake up any who went to sleep during the long ser- 
mons. In the early days the tithingman used to stop peo- 
ple who were driving on Sunday, unless they were on the Avay 
to church or on errands of urgent importance. There is an 
old story of a man who succeeded in getting by a Ncav Eng- 
land tithingman liy telling him that his father was dead Avith 
such a lugubrious countenance that the tithingman took it 
for granted that the man Avas going to the funeral, but Avhen 
he Avas Ijeyond reach the man turned aliout and shouted back 
the additional information that his father had been dead about 
five years. 

At the first toAvn meeting it Avas voted to raise thirty 
poimds for highAvays, and to pay for Avork from May 1 to 
Aug. 1, four shillings ; from Aug. 1 to end of September, three 
shillings, and for the rest of the year two shillings a day. 
TAventy pounds Avere raised to hire preaching. It Avas voted 
the same year to build a schoolhouse in the north part of the 
town, Avhich Avas the school located in the present centre of 
the town. 

The toAvn arranu'ed Avith Charlemont for the purchase of 



36 

Charlemont's interest in the meeting-house, and undertook to 
remove it to a more central location. Dec. 18, 1786, Asahel 
Thayer, Jonathan Taylor, Benjamin Maxwell and William 
Buck, Jr., were appointed a committee " to pitch upon a spot 
to set the meeting-house." Aug. 23, 1787, the committee re- 
. ported that about fifteen rods east of the North Schoolhouse 
on the north line of Lieut. Benjamin Maxwell's lot was the most 
convenient spot, and in 1787 it was voted to give Lieut. ^lax- 
wcll fifty dollars for an acre of land to set the meeting-house 
on, and to raise fifty pounds for moving the building. This 
acre is the present common, and the meeting-house was placed 
nearly opposite, l)ut a little to the east of the present Congre- 
gational Church. 

The building was moved in instalments, and it was voted to 
give Lieut. Eli Gould ><11, for stripping the foreside and ]»ut- 
ting it on again, Capt. Asaph White 89, for the other side, 
David Baldwin 818, for the roof, and Daniel Spooner 824 for 
the two ends, the work to be done by Dec. 1, 1787. 

April 7, 1788, it was voted to raise fifty pounds to furnish 
the meeting-house, and a proposition of Capt. Asaph White 
was accepted to do the work and receive for pay " neat cattle, 
swine, sheep, beef, pork, grain, flax, hides, flax seed, beans, 
peas, oats and boards." 

The people at this time were very poor. There was hardly 
any money in circulation, and the little there was consisted of 
a few well worn Spanish coins. Most of the l)usincss transac- 
tions were in l)arter. The i)eople had little to sfll that would 
bring money. They l)urncd wood for the ashes, made potash, 
and carried it to Boston to raise money to pa}- their taxes. 

In 1786 many of the people of Western Massachusetts 
joined in the Shay's Bcbollion. They were the original 
Greenbackers and wanted an issue of i)aper money. The 
courts were rendering judgments against them for debts they 
could not pay, and they wanted the courts closed and the law- 
yers abolished, and they had many grievances growing out of 



37 

the hard times. Hard times are bad, but the violent and ex- 
traordinarj remedies proposed infinitely worse. The only 
adequate remedy is hard work, industry and economy. 

The people of this town gave no encouragement to this re- 
bellion, and as they had been unanimous in support of the 
Revolution, so were they united in support of the government 
through these trying times. They set themselves resolutely 
to work, raised and paid what under the circumstances were 
large sums for the church, the schools and all public enter- 
prises, and in the end enjoyed the prosperity that comes from 
honesty and industry. 

Among the men particularly active in putting down the 
Shays Rebellion, Avas the gallant old soldier, Col. Maxwell. 
Miss Priscilla Maxwell tells the story that a party of the 
routed and scattered rebels called at a house in Washington 
County, N. Y., and while being fed were heard by their host- 
ess talking very bitterly against Col. Maxwell. The good lady 
listened for a time and then spoke up, " I know Col. Maxwell 
very well. He is a good man and has done his duty to his 
country, and I advise you to go directly to Col. Maxwell and 
make a humble acknowledgement, and tell him that his sister 
Peggy gave you victuals and drink and warmed you when you 
were hungry and cold, and she hopes he will forgive you if 
you will behave like good citizens in time to come." 

The dress of this period and of many years later was sim- 
ple, and almost entirely of home growth and home manufac- 
ture. The farmer raised flax and kept sheep, and from the 
flax and wool were made the clothing. The spinning wheel 
and the great loom were in almost every house, and were gen- 
erally in active use. The cloth woven by the busy housewife 
was colored in the dye tub, and formed the staple article of 
wear. 

The young man who went to see his girl on Sunday nights 
sometimes managed to procure a suit of broadcloth, which did 
service on special occasions for long years after, and the head 



38 

of the family had generally a long blue surtout, which became 
a sort of heirloom in the family in after generations. 

The diet was equally simple and plain, and almost entirely 
produced on the farm. Fresh beef was kept a long time 
through the winter packed in snow. There were corned beef 
and salt pork, rye and Indian bread, hulled corn and samp 
and milk. Sometimes in winter the farmer would make a 
long trip to Boston and sell some produce, and if a thaw did 
not set in would bring back a supply of fresh codfish. Then 
they learned to compound mince, pumpkin and apple pies with 
a skill which is now believed to be among the lost arts. Or- 
chards were set out early, and in the virgin soil soon bore a 
bountiful supply of apples, and there was a cider mill in every 
neighborhood. In the autumn the farmer rolled into his cel- 
lar a dozen or twenty barrels of cider, and the neighbor who 
dropped in of a long winter evening would have felt himself 
inhospitably received, if he had not been entertained with a 
dish of rosy cheeked apples and a brimming mug of cider. 

There were few books to read. The Bible was to be found 
in every house. There was Baxter's Saints Rest, a volume or 
two of sermons, and a memoir of some saintly woman. There 
were generally those cheerful and entertaining works, Fox's 
Book of Martyrs, and Young's Night Thoughts. There were 
most likely Pilgrim's Progress, and Watts on the Improve- 
ment of the mind, and perhaps Rollin's Ancient History. Of 
novels there were none. The clergyman had of course a 
larger library, liut they were mostly of a theological character. 
Of books for children there were very few. When T think of 
the books and magazines for children of this day, illustrated 
with the highest art, and in the writing of which so many 
of the most gifted and accomplished authors are engaged, 
and in which older minds find a perpetual delight, I cannot 
without a feeling of pain think of the boj's and girls of long- 
ago left to subsist upon the crude })ictures and meager diet 
()f the New Euirland Primer. 



39 

Nor were the people of that day any better off in the way 
of newspapers. For many years after the Revolution news- 
papers could not be sent by mail. They were not mailable 
matter. Sometimes the postman brought a few newspapers 
along and, if they were not lost on the way or worn out by 
the postman and his friends as they perused them, the sub- 
scrilier might get his paper a week or so after it was issued. 
One or two men in the town took, when they would get it, a 
Boston paper, two or three Springfield papers. After the 
Greenfield Gazette was established in 1792, more papers were 
taken, and not many years after most families were supplied 
with the county paper, and many copies of Boston religious 
papers were taken. 

But when the subscriber of those early days after long delay 
and much tribulation, oljtained his paper, it is not easy to see 
what he could have found in it to interest him. Of what we 
call news the newspaper of that day contained hardly any- 
thing. We are accustomed to find in the newspaper of to-day 
all the news gathered with wonderful enterprise and industry, 
from every part of the world up to within an hour or two of 
the time the paper is issued, and if we do not get the paper on 
the day it is issued, we feel that it is old. The newspaper 
man of to-day has fallen into a habit of interviewing every- 
body who is supposed to have in his possession any exclusive 
item of news, or any opinions upon any important matter, and 
not only in every such item extracted and every such opinion 
elicited, but the man who is interviewed generally finds him- 
self accredited with various views and opinions which had 
never entered his head. Then the county or local papers have 
taken to writing up so fully all matters of local news, that if 
Mr. Jones' horse has a fit of the blind staggers, we may gen- 
erally depend upon finding a full account of the matter with 
all details and circumstances in the newspaper. 

How different was the newspaper of the olden time ! The 
leading editorial was generally a call upon delinquent sub- 



40 

scribers to ]iay up, with the infunnation that oats, peas, 
beans, etc., will be received in ])ayment. Then there was gen- 
erally an essay — often very well written upon some point of 
morals or some question of the day over the name of Cato or 
or Seneca — and by the time the paper reached him a distant 
subscriber might easily make the mistake of believing it was 
written by the veritable old Roman whose name was signed 
to it. Then there would be an extract from a i)rivate letter 
to a friend of the editor, or some gentleman of the town writ- 
ten a week or two before, by an acquaintance two or three 
hundred miles away, giving an account of some remarkable 
event, said to have happened in the vicinity of the writer, but 
which was proljaljly made up ])y some gossiping neighbor or 
some story telling passer by. Then there would be an ac- 
count of a battle or some military operations on the continent 
of Europe which had taken place one or two months before, 
and the account of which the editor obtained from an English 
newspaper which had come over in a sailing vessel, and had 
been given to the editor by a traveller who chanced to have it 
in his pocket. And this was substantially what the subscriber 
of that day found in his newspaper when it reached a week or 
so after it was presented. 

The question naturally arises how a people with such books 
and newspapers acquired the general information and intelli- 
gence which our ancestors possessed. A recent Avriter says 
the New Englanders of that period acquired their knowledge 
l)y their inquisitiveness. Doubtless this is true to a consider- 
able extent, but I am inclined to think that the regular at- 
tendance at church, and the lively interest and discussions as 
to religious doctrines, contributed largely to the intellectual 
groAvth of the people. A traveller of that day found it very 
difiicult to pass a house without standing a rigid cross-exami- 
nation as to news, and he might think himself very fortunate 
if he did not find himself entangled in a controversy upon the 
trinitv, or oriu'inal sin. 



41 

"With their imperfect facilities for finding out the news the 
people were on one occasion nearly led into error. In 1794 
Samuel Adams was running for governor, and he was* a Dem- 
ocrat. This was about the first appearance of Democrats. 

The anti Federals and Republicans had before this time at- 
tacked some of the measures of the administration, but had 
never said aught against "Washington. The Democratic Soci- 
eties began to be formed in 1793, and some of the leaders had 
assailed with great malignity the great chief himself. Samuel 
Adams had been a distinguished patriot, and it Avas not prob- 
ably generally known that he had become a Democrat. 

"When the people met to vote for governor, Lieut. Benjamin 
Maxwell seems to have been the only one present who under- 
stood the situation. Others took newspapers, but probably 
the papers had not arrived or had brought no news. Lieut. 
Benjamin Maxwell told the voters that Adams was the man, 
and they all voted for Adams. Just as they had finished vot- 
ing Mr. Leavitt arrived, and upon learning how they had voted 
said that he feared they had been too fast, that he had just re- 
turned from Springfield and Northampton, and had been told 
there that Samuel Adams was a Democrat. Then Dea. John 
Brown rose and said solemnly that if he had known that, he 
would have cut off his 'right hand before it should have cast a 
vote for Adams. The voters looked at one another in con- 
sternation. The idea of voting for a Democrat " unljeknownst " 
to themselves ! But they were equal to the emergency. 
Some one rose and moved that the moderator sweep the table, 
that the vote be expunged, and they all vote over again. This 
was carried at once, and then all but one voted for Adams' 
competitor. It is needless to say that the one voter who stood 
by Adams was Lieut. Benjamin Maxwell, and for years after, 
while parties were divided as Federalists and Democrats, the 
one steadfast Democrat was Lieut. Benjamin Maxwell. He 
was somewhat proud of standing alone, or else determined to 
have the record settled so that when the distribution of offices 



42 

came ill his party, no interloping Federalist should set up a 
claim as an original, " Jacol) Townshend " Democrat, for, on 
one occasion, he insisted upon having the house divided, so 
that he stood alone on one side, and all the rest on the other. 

The church was organized April 15, 1785. The council 
met April 13, and on that day disposed of the cases of some 
nicml)ers of the old church who were under censure grow- 
ing out of the difficulties with ^Iv. Leavitt. On the l-itli 
they deliljcratcd upon the case of Rev. Mr, Leavitt and 
decided tliat lie should be dismissed, and on the loth, the new 
church was formed under the name of " The Church of Christ 
in Heath," and it consisted of thirty-five members. Col. Hugh 
Maxwell was made standing moderator. 

The people were supplied with preaching by Rev. Messrs. 
Church, Whipple and others until the spring of 1790, when 
Rev. Joseph Strong began to preach and soon after, May 17, 
1790, it was voted in town meeting to call Rev. Joseph Strong 
to settle and to offer him X120 settlement, to be paid in cash 
or produce at following prices : pork six shillings per score, 
beef, fifteen shillings per hundred, wheat, four shillings, rye, 
three shillings, corn, two shillings and sixpence per bushel, 
and sixty pounds a year salary to be paid in like manner. 
Mr. Strong accepted, and his letter of acceptance was entered 
on the town records. 

All matters in regard to the settlement of a pastor and pay- 
ment of his salary, were at this time, and for many years 
after, settled in town meeting. 

In July 1790 it was voted to provide for the ordination, and 
to sell the ])ews. There were 26 pews below, and 11 in the 
gallery. Those below sold at an average of about eight 
pounds, and those in the gallery at about three pounds each. 
Mr. Strong was ordained Oct. 27, 1790, and was dismissed 
June 10, 1803, so that from the time he commenced preach- 
ing here, he was here over 13 years. During his ministry 
there were three revivals. 



43 

Rev. Joseph Strong was born in Granln* Ct., April 7, 1756, 
and was a son of Rev. Joseph Strong of Granby Ct., and 
Williamsbnrg Mass., a chaplain in the Continental army, and 
a descendant of Elder John Strong, who was born in Taunton, 
England in 1605, landed at Nantasket in 1630, and settled at 
Northampton in 1659, and was the father of 18 children. 
Mr. Strong graduated at Yale in 1781, and married in 1786 
a daughter of Rev. John Woodbridge who was one of a long- 
line of clergymen of that name. One of his children died 
young and is buried in the South Burying Ground. His old- 
est son, Hon. Joseph Strong, lived in South Hadley, was for 
several years a memlier of the Massachusetts Legislature, and 
died in Rochester N. Y. 

His second son. Prof. Theodore Strong, LL. D., born in 
1790, about the time of Mr. Strong's settlement, graduated at 
Yale in 1812, was professor in Hamilton College for 40 
years, and then professor in New Brunswick College, N. J., 
where he died in 1869. He was one of the most distinguished 
scholars this country has ever produced. 

Another son, Woodbridge Strong, M. D., born in Heath, iu 
1794, graduated at Yale in 1815, was an eminent physician in 
Boston for forty years, and died in 1861. 
• Another son, Maltby Strong, M. D., born in Heath in 1796, 
graduated at Yale in 1819, was a physician in Rochester 
N. Y., and was mayor of that city. 

One of his daughters, Sophia Woodln-idge, born in Heath 
in 1793, married Benjamin W. Dwight, M. D., a son of Pres- 
ident Dwight of Yale College, and grandson of Jonathan 
Edwards, and was the mother of Prof. Theodore W. Dwight, 
LL. D., a professor in Hamilton College, and afterwards war- 
den of the Columbia College Law School, and lecturer in 
Columbia College and Cornell University, and probably the 
ablest writer upon legal questions in the United States. 

Another daughter, Delia, born in Heath in 1800, married 
Prof. Charles Avery, a distinguished professor of Hamilton 
Colleo-e. 



44 

Mr. Strong appears to have been a man of fine sensibilities, 
and many fine qualities. He often preached "with great pathos 
and power. That he was a faithful pastor seems evident from 
the revivals during his ministry. He had a small salary, a 
large family to support, and he carried on a farm on which he 
worked hard during the day. He lived on the road running- 
north up the rocks, a little to the south of the house now 
occupied by Mr. Abraham Tanner. 

The people were well united in Mr. Strong down to 1803, 
when dissatisfaction arose and a commitee consisting of John 
Brown, Benjamin Maxwell, Benjamin White, James White 
and Seth Temple were sent to confer with Mr. Strong and in- 
vite him to take steps to dissolve the pastoral relation. 
There were some conferences and Mr. Strong addressed two 
letters to the people of the town, very manly and creditable 
letters. Among other things he wrote; "As I am placed here 
by the head of the Church I am not willing to do anything 
that will look like desertion or cowardice. I am willing to 
serve you in the Gospel of Christ as long as God shall enable 
me, provided that you will attend upon my ministry as be- 
cometh Saints, receive the truth in the love of it, and let me 
be amongst you as an ambassador of the Prince of Peace. 
But if you do not feel willing to sit doAvn peaceably under my 
ministry, although I am not conscious of having done any- 
thing to forfeit your esteem more than any man possesing the 
imperfections of human nature is liable to, yet I am willing 
to join with you in calling a Council to hear Avhat you have to 
allege against mc and to judge what is most expedient to be 
done." 

Mr. Strong insisted that all grievances and matters of com- 
plaint should be laid l^efore the Council ; declared his 
readiness to make gospel satisfaction, if he had done any 
wrong, and expressed the opinion that if harmony could not 
he restored, it was better that the relation should be dissolved. 
It was agreed on the part of the town that they would pay 



45 

him 8200 as compensation for his loss by removal, and a 
Council Avas called of which Rev. Samuel Taggart of Colrain 
was moderator. 

Charges were laid before the Council. The first and main 
one was "Entangling himself with the cares of this life to the 
neglect of some ministerial duties." The other charges seem 
almost frivolous. One was that of inhospitality in the treat- 
ment of some other clergyman whose name does not appear. 
Whether Mr. Strong mistook some wandering clergyman 
for a tramp, or whether he did not care to invite to the hos- 
pitalities of his house some clergyman with whom he had 
quarrelled on doctrinal points is left in doul)t. 

There is no certificate of evidence or Itill of exceptions pre- 
served, and I can only judge of the evidence from the finding 
and report of the council, which is elaborate, somewhat vague, 
and substantially in favor of Mr. Strong. The council laid 
down the law that a clergyman ought not to become engrossed 
in worldly affairs and business ; that at the same time, a 
clergyman with a family to support is bound to provide for 
his own household, and should exercise a reasonable amount 
of worldly wisdom and prudence. Coming to the facts, they 
do not find that the charge is in any general sense sustained, 
but at the same time they intimate, that, in some unimpor- 
tant particulars, Mr. Strong may have been at fault, and they 
conclude by deciding that the pastoral relation shall be dis- 
solved. A protest against the finding of the council, so far 
as it implied any censure upon Mr. Strong, was entered on 
the town records ]\v a number of prominent men, on the 
ground that if any fault had been proved it had been atoned 
for, and satisfaction made by Mr. Strong. 

Miss Annie Maxwell says that Mr. Strong preached the 
strait Calvinistic doctrines, and that about the time this diffi- 
culty arose there were many fluctuating minds, and that a 
new doctrine arose about this time which seemed to engross 
the attention of many; and I am inclined to think that the 



46 

difficulty had its ori<rin in a difference on doctrinal questions. 
Mr. Strong continued to preach until aljout the time he died, 
Dec. 19, 1823, and his remains rest in South Hadley. 

Rev. Ebenezer Tucker supplied the pulpit for a time after 
Mr. Strong. He afterwards hccame a Unitarian, and was en- 
gaged in business in Heath, often serving as moderator at town 
meetings and selectman, and diiMl in Heath, Jan. 14, 1848, at 
the age of eighty-four. He was the father of Edward Tucker, 
who was largely engaged in buying cattle and sending them 
to market at Boston. Mr. Edward Tucker was often select- 
man and a popular and good citizen, and died in Heath in 
1884, at the age of eighty-six. 

In 1804 the town voted to give Rev. Moses Miller a call to 
settle, and a committee consisting of Benjamin Maxwell, John 
Brown, William Buck, Stephen Thompson, and Thomas Dal- 
rymple was appointed to confer with him. There was a 
strong opposition to Mr. Miller, but he was settled Dec. 26, 
1804, and remained pastor until April 21, 1840. 

Mr. ]\lillcr was born in Worcester, Xov. 23, 1776, graduated 
at Brown in 1800, married Miss Bethiah Ware, of Conway, in 
1806, and died in Chicago, April 22, 1855, at the age of 
seventy-eight. Mr. Miller was a man of good abilities, sound 
judgment, and a faithful and devoted pastor. He took a deep 
interest in education, and was a teacher as well as a pastor. 
Many young men, some from this town, and many from a dis- 
tance came to study with him, some preparing for college, and 
others for the ministry. During his pastorate the town ad- 
vanced to its highest prosperity. Settlers came in slowly 
until the l)eginning of the century, but afterwards more 
rapidly, and as the children of the early settlers, most 
of whom had large families, grew up, the p()i)ulation rapidly 
increased. 

In the north jtart of the town, or the north woods as it wa& 
called, there were few settlers l)cfore 1820. 

The town was divided into nine school districts, and in each 



47 

a school was maintained summer and winter. Early they 
began to have select schools, first in the south part of the 
town and later in the centre, in the red building now stand- 
ing, and in the town hall. Among the early teachers of se- 
lect schools were Rev. Addison Ware, Mansfield French, who 
was afterwards one of the founders of Marietta College, Ohio, 
and Rev. John C. Thompson. At a later day Hon. Whiting 
Griswold taught for several seasons a large and flourishing 
select school, which drew many young men preparing for col- 
lege. Among those who attended were Rev. Daniel T. Fiske, 
D.D., a professor in Andover Theological Seminary, and Rev. 
William W. Howland, who for more than forty years past has 
been an eminent missionary in Ceylon. Among the teachers 
who have taught in Heath are Thomas Spencer Miller, Rev. 
Thomas 0. Rice, Hon. Samuel T. Field, James C. Greenough, 
President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, George 
Howland, President of the State Board of Education of Illi- 
nois, Lucius B. Wing, Vice-President of the Trustees of the 
Ohio State University, Rev. William C. Barber, Rev. W. A. 
Xichols. 

There was considerable manufacturing carried on in a 
small way in these early days. Col. Asaph White started a 
woolen mill in Mill Hollow, and later, agricultural imple- 
ments, ropes and other articles were made to a consid- 
erable extent. Among those who carried on these industries 
were Jonas Reed, Ephraim Hastings, Henry Shepard, Elijah 
Allen, Squire Benson and Jacob Snow. 

Dr. Joseph Lothrop from West Springfield came here in 
1780, and was the first physician who settled in the town, and 
went away a few years after. The people were generally 
healthy. If anything was the matter, the remedy was bleed- 
ing; and there was generally a neighbor armed with a lancet 
and an instrument for extracting teeth, who could be called 
in upon an emergency. In 1799 Dr. Benjamin Dickinson 
and soon after Dr. Elijah Heaton settled here, but they had 



48 

little to (h) until 1805, when a violent eijidemic prevailed 
through the town. Mr. Colman with his wife and three 
children died on a high point of land in the south part of the 
towu. 'I'lic two Doctors seemed unahle to control the disease, 
and l)oth soon after went away. 

In 1806 Dr. Josei)h Emerson, a son of Rev. John Emerson 
of Conway, settled here, and from that time, until his death 
Aug. 13, 1842, was the principal physician of the place. He 
"was a successful and eminent physician and a valuable 
citizen. 

In 1824 Dr. Emerson married ]\fiss Sarah Cheney Avhose 
father came from Phillij)ston and was a merchant in Heath. 
Dr. Emerson l)ought the place formerly owned by Rev. 
Joseph Strong, and lived there for some time, and afterwards 
built and resided on the road running north, a little to the 
east of the other road. 

His only son, John M. Emerson, graduated at Amherst in 
1849 ; was a tutor in Amherst College, and was for a numljer 
of years engaged in an extensive practice as a lawyer in Xew 
York City, and died there Aug. 3, 1869 at the age of 43. 

Felicia H., a daughter of Dr. Emerson, married Hon. John 
Welch, for many years a judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio. 
Another daughter. Alma F., marrried Prof. Samuel F. 
Miller. 

Since the death of Dr. Emerson, Drs. Simeon Strong, 
Samuel Reed, Ashman H. Taylor, Cyrus Temple and Frederick 
Temple have been resident physicians. 

Col. Roger Leavitt, a son of Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, lived on 
the homestead, and in 1810 Avas Colonel of the 5th Regiment 
of this Brigade of Massachusetts Militia, was a member of 
the Senate, and was for many years a prominent man in 
Franklin County, and held many offices of public trust. 

Joshua Leavitt, his oldest son, was born Sept. 8, 1794, in 
Heath, graduated at Yale in 1814 ; was admitted to the bar in 
1819, and about that time settled as a lawyer in Heath, and 



49 

founded the first Sabbath School here and the first in this 
region. He was the only lawyer who ever undertook to 
practice his profession in this town. Had he waited a few 
years until James Brown was older, business might have 
been better, but there was little law business in Heath. 
Clients were backward in coming forward, and he soon 
tired of the laws, or client's delays, studied for the ministry, 
and was ordained in 1825. In 1831 he became editor of the 
X. Y. Evangelist, and in 1837 of the Emancipator, a paper de- 
voted to opposition to Slavery. From 1818 to the time of his 
death, he was an editor of the N. Y. Independent. He was 
for some time chairman of the National Committee of the 
Liberty Party. In the war against slavery, Mr. Leavitt was 
among the first to enlist and his trenchant Ijlade was always 
flashing in the- front rank. Down to the time when the 
shackles were stricken from the last bondman, with his pen, 
on the platform and in the pulpit he was steadfast and un- 
tiring in his fierce and uncompromising war upon slavery. 
Mr. Leavitt died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 16, 1873. 

Col. Roger Hooker Leavitt and Hart Leavitt, sons of Col. 
Roger Leavitt, were long valuable citizens of this town, and 
lived on or near the old homestead, which has now passed into 
the hands of Mr. Rollin Bassett. Hart Lea^'itt was County 
Commissioner and a member of the Legislature. 

Col. R. H. Leavitt was the first captain of the Rifle Com- 
pany, and afterwards colonel of the Fourth Regiment. In an 
order for review issued by Col. Leavitt to his regiment in Oct. 
1834, I find these striking words : " At the approaching re- 
view you will be the representatives of the ancient Fifth Regi- 
ment, Let then the completeness of your arms, equipments 
and uniforms, the soldier-like appearance of your persons and 
your strict attention to orders, evince to the reviewing officer 
and the world that you are the worthy sons of those worthy 
sires who constituted that regiment in the days of its glory, 
and that in your hands, in the hands of free Republican citi- 



50 

zcii soldiers, the cause nf lil»ci-ty is far more safe than under 
the ]»rotection of mercenary armies." 

Col. Leavitt was for several years a mcniljer of the Massa- 
chusetts Legislature and a Senator, and was a leading man in 
many })ul)lic enterprises. He was one of the most active pro- 
moters of the railroad now running through Charlemont and 
the Hoosac Tunnel. Many years ago he removed to Charle- 
mont, but he was always interested in the affairs of this town, 
and was looking forward with livel}' interest to this celebra- 
tion, and his sudden death casts its shadow on this day. He 
was born July 31, 1805, and died July 18, 1885. 

Hon. John H. Leavitt, a son of Col. Leavitt, is a banker in 
Iowa, and has been a member of the Senate. 

Henry Leavitt, another son, graduated at Williams, became 
a lawyer and died in 1866. Both were natives of this town. 

Hon. Ephraim Hastings was long a prominent citizen. He 
married a daughter of Gen. William Shepard, a distinguished 
officer of the Revolution, who commanded the Massachusetts 
trooi)S when Shays was routed at Springfield. Henry Shep- 
ard, a son of Gen. Shepard, was for some time associated with 
Esq. Hastings in business here. Esq. Hastings owned the 
grist mill afterwards sold to Calvin G. Coats. He was a 
member of the Senate and held many offices. 

His daughters were highly educated and accomplished 
ladies. One of them, Margaret, married a lawyer, and now 
resides in San Francisco. Another, Jane, married a clergy- 
man, and is now at the head of a youug ladies' Seminary in 
Rochester, N. Y. The youngest married Lysander M. Ward, 
who came here from Petersham and was for many years town 
clerk and the principal merchant of the town, and a very pop- 
ular man. ^fr. Ward now resides in Nebraska. A son, Jo- 
seph T, Ward, born in Heath in 1844, graduated at Amherst 
in 1870, and is now a lawyer in Kansas. 

John Hastings came here from Hatfield and kept a store 
some years before Mr. Ward. He Avas town clerk for many 



51 

years, and became so accomplished in the duties of the office 
that when he removed from this town to Onandaga, N. Y.,, 
he was chosen to that office and has held it ever since, al- 
though he is now ninety-five years old. 

Col. David Snow was a builder and built the present Con- 
gregational Church in 1883. He was captain of the old mili- 
tary company when called into service during the war of 1812, 
and afterwards colonel of the Fifth Regiment. He lived 
where Mr. Dennis Canedy now resides, and died in 1862 at the 
age of eighty-three. William W. Snow, a son of Col. David 
Snow, is at the head of an extensive manufacturing estal)lish- 
ment in the vicinity of New York, and was the Republican 
candidate for Congress in his district at the last election. 

Jacob Snow, a brother of Col. David Snow, lived here for a 
long time, and a son of his, Hon. W. W. Snow, was a member 
of the 32d Congress from one of the New York districts. 

Samuel Kinsman was born in Barre, in 1769, was an early 
settler and died in 1838. His son. Bliss Kinsman, lived in the 
east part of the town, and died in 1873. 

Dr. David N. Kinsman, a son of Bliss Kinsman, is a distin- 
guished physician of Ohio, and professor in the Medical Col- 
lege in Columbus, Ohio. Henry B. Kinsman, another son, 
studied law, but went into the war and died in the army in 
1863. 

David Temple, who is one of the oldest surviving citizens of 
the town, has long been a prominent and influential man in 
town affairs. A son. Dr. Hiram M. Temple, has been for a 
number of years a physician in Charlemont. 

Dr. Jonathan Temple, a brother of David Temple, studied 
medicine with Dr. Stephen W. Williams of Deerfield, and 
practised his profession in Ohio. He consented to become 
surgeon of an Ohio regiment in the war, and went on to join 
the regiment, arriving just as they were going under fire at 
Antietam. Thinking there was an opportunity to do some 
service for his country before being called upon in the line of 



52 

professional duties, he borrowed a musket, took his place iu 
the ranks, and was shot down in the battle. 

Squire Benson was born in Southfield, R. I., in 1785, and 
married his wife in Williamstown, and died in 1870 at the age 
of eio-hty-five. He brought up a large family, most of whom 
are still in this region. Of late years the family have estab- 
lished a custom of holding an annual family reunion. 

Squire Benson, Gayton Williams, Edward Tucker and Otis 
Gale for many years filled the place now filled l)y the railroad 
coni})anies in furnishing the facilities for the transijortation of 
supplies, produce and cattle between the town and Boston. 
The sons of Otis Gale, Edward H., Otis and David, are now 
largely engaged in raising and shipping cattle from Colorado, 
with inherited instinct and ability. The father who thought 
it a considerable enterprise to gather and take to Boston a 
hundred head of cattle, would be astonished to see the boys 
shipping to Chicago fat steers by the thousands. 

Silas Allen settled first in Charlemont, came to Heath in 
1791, and lived near where the Baptist Church was built. In 
1793 he ])0ught the farm and built a house about a mile north 
of the centre, and lived there until he died Dec. 12, 1841, at 
the age of eighty-seven. 

Elijah Allen, his son, married a daughter of Stephen 
Thompson and lived on the old homestead until his deatli in 
1847. A number of his children are now living in New 
Hampshire, New York, Illinois and Kansas. 

One of his sons. Rev. Stephen Thompson Allen, ])orn in 
1809, graduated at Amherst in 1833, was a pastor in Charle- 
mont and Merrimack, N. H., and editor for some years in 
New York city, and afterwards an Episcopal clergyman, and 
preached for a numljer of years in Chicago, Aurora and Gales- 
burg, Illinois, and Muscatine, Iowa, and died May 13, 1878. 

Another son. Dr. Loren S. Allen, practised his profession 
for many years and afterwards was engaged in l)usiness, and 
now lives in Rockford, 111. 



53 

Dr. David Allen, another son of Silas Allen, became a phy- 
sician and settled in Vermont. 

Jonathan Nims settled early near the top of Nims' hill, and 
there Dr. Reuben Nims, his son, was born in 1794. If Dr. 
Reuben Nims, who went to Vermont, did not rise high in the 
world it conld not have been for want of a good start. 

Joseph W. Hunt was born in 1797, and was a prominent 
and valuable citizen, and the son of William Hunt who died 
in 1816. He was a member of the Legislature, and for many 
years held the office of selectman and other offices. His 
brother William was also a prominent man. 

There were several families of the Gales who lived in the 
north and west parts of the town, descendants of Luther Gale 
who died in 1821. Luther Gale 2d was generally moderator 
at town meetings for many years, and was a member of the 
Legislature and County Commissioner. Daniel Gale, his 
brother, was a valuable citizen who removed with his family 
some years ago to Ohio. One of his daughters married an 
editor, and another a leading capitalist of Cincinnati. 

Charles Gale, a son of Daniel Gale, originated the first 
farmers club in this region in 1838, and is now a leading- 
farmer of Hamilton County, Ohio. 

There were several families of Ruggs, among them, Dea. 
David Rugg, who were all good and useful citizens. 

Jonas Reed, who seems to have been a sea-faring man in 
early life, came about 1800, kept a store about half a mile 
west of the centre, was something of a manufacturer, and was 
the father of Miss Susan Reed, who graduated in the first 
class at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and married Rev. 
William Ware Howland the missionary to Ceylon. 

Elder and Dea. John Chapin was born at Milford in 1730, 
and was then elder and deacon of the church. He was de- 
scended from Samuel Chapin who came from England to 
Roxbury in 1636. He removed to Heath in 1804, and died in 
Heath in 1815 at the age of eighty-five. He and his sons, 



54 

Dea. Isaac Chapiii and Doa. Jacob Cliapin, arc all Iniried in 
the Centre Burying Ground. The two sons came here before 
"the father about 1785. 

There was always in the early days an Infantry Comi)any 
in Heath. Every aljle bodied man was called upon to do mil- 
itary service. But ahout 1827 the Heath Rifle Company was 
formed. Col. B. H. Leavitt was the first captain, later the 
company was commanded by Capt. William Gleason, and later 
by Capt. Bodoljihus D. White, a grandson of Col. Asaph, and 
a great grandson of Col. Jonathan White. 

In this company were the flower of the young men. They 
•wore a handsome uniform, were well drilled, and would have 
made a creditable appearance anywhere. 

The old company was still kept up and made its appear- 
ance on training days, and was chiefl}' useful as a foil to show 
off the Rifle Company. The captain of this other company, 
which was sometimes called the Floodwood Company, wore a 
imiform, l)ut the men generally appeared in whatever style of 
dress suited them. They generally carried guns that had seen 
service, and in fact too much service. The guns were harm- 
less unless fired, and then they would be most dangerous to 
those who fired them. The company was equal to forming a 
line and could march across the Common, if no unusual difii- 
culty presented itself, but as to performing any difficult move- 
ments the thing was wisely not attempted. But with the 
Rifle Company it was very different. Since my eyes have 
looked upon the Heath Rifle Company, I have seen the Impe- 
rial Guard of France marching with the victorious colors they 
■carried at Solferino, the well drilled legions of Germany and 
the stalwart guardsmen of England, l)ut if I may trust the im- 
pressions of boyhood I should say that there Avere nowhere to 
be found troops of more martial and soldierly bearing than 
the Heath Rifle Company. 

In 1792 Elder Stephen Barker came here from Ashby and 
lived north of the Centre where Dea. Charles Benson now re- 



55 

sides. Stephen Gerry married a daughter of Elder Barker 
and lived on the same place, but removed to and died in 
Wisconsin. 

Elder Barker, who seems to have been the first Baptist in 
the town, was mainly instrumental in forming the Baptist 
Church, which was organized Sept. 9, 1801. A meeting- 
house was built in 1805 at the four corners in the east 
part of the town, near where William Fisk formerly lived. 
In 1839 this building was removed to the Centre, raised 
up and enlarged and stood until the present year fac- 
ing the southwest corner of the common. The church 
prospered and in 1830 had 120 members. Besides Elder 
Barker a number of clergymen preached here, among 
whom were Elder Lamb, Arad Hall, Anthony Case and 
Rev. Milo Frary. The latter lived here, and died in 1880, 
at the age of eighty. Rev. George Benton, a Baptist clergy- 
man was born here. 

A Unitarian Church was formed in 1825 and supplied at 
different times by Rev. Messrs. Winthrop Bailey, Dan Hunt- 
ington, Henry Coleman, Joseph Field and Rev. Dr. Samuel 
Willard. 

There were a few Universalists in the town, but no more 
than enough to furnish controversy for the Orthodox. Rev. 
Grosvenor Swan and Rev. William C. Barl^er, Universalist 
clergymen, were natives of this town. 

At the end of the first fifty years from the incorporation of 
the town, the population was about 1200. The log houses 
had all given place to good and substantial frame houses with 
wide, generous fireplaces, with spacious barns, with well cul- 
tivated fields and all the signs of prosperity. The people were 
intelligent, moral and industrious. The Sabbath School of 
the Congregational Church numbered 500. All the people 
went to church, the whole family generally going and leaving 
the doors of the house unlocked. 

The people contributed liberally for many public enter- 



56 

prises. About this time Mary Lyon came here and raised 
amonii" the farmers iJ1200 to assist in Ijuilding the Momit 
Holyokc Female Seminary. 

In 1795 the town voted nine pounds to hire a singing mas- 
ter, and from time to time afterwards a})})ropriations were 
made for that purpose. The singing school brought together 
the young people, and with its refining influences contrilmted 
largely to the best interests of the place. At the close of the 
school, there was generally a grand concert in the church, 
when the choir took its place for the first time reinforced by 
the new recruits. In early days the choir was led by Thomas 
Harrington, and in later times William M. Maxwell was for a 
long time the leader, and the daughters of Mr, Amos Brooks 
were conspicuous members. 

The apple of discord is known to often fall into a church 
choir. Only one such event is known to have hapjiened with 
this choir, and that was caused Ijy the resolute determination 
of a young man to sing in the choir when he could not sing. 
From all accounts it seems that the young man could not sing 
in tune, or even in the neighborhood of a tune. He had at- 
tended the singing school, and the master had turned him out ; 
but he smuggled himself in or " waited patiently about," and 
when the choir took their places in the gallery there he was. 
He was a peaceable, inoffensive young man. If he could have 
been provoked into a quarrel he would have been pitched out. 
He would not quarrel. He said little but sang, or tried to 
sing, the more. He was jostled and pushed about by the other 
singers until he took his place at the extreme end of the choir 
close to the wall, and as he looked at the solid Avail against 
which he was crowded, he might have asked as did Daniel 
Webster, " where am I to go ? " The choir insisted that he 
should go down stairs. 

It is difficult for one Avhose car is not attuned to the finest 
harmonies, to understand why the matter was one of such im- 
liortance, or why the young man could not have been allowed 



57 

to sing as well as he could. He had probably been misled by 
some such maxims as " what man has done man can do," or 
that " perseverance will overcome all obstacles," sayings which 
have in them some grain of truth, but often as in this case 
lead to dire consequences. There were some forty others in 
the choir, and it would seem that forty singing in tune might 
hold their own against one singing out of tune. 

But no such considerations sufficed to appease the leader 
and his choir who stood beside him in fierce war upon the 
young man. If the tithingman had been about probably the 
case would have come under his jurisdiction, but this func- 
tionary had gone out of office. So the choir appealed to the 
constable, and insisted that he should remove the obnoxious 
member. The constable was in doubt about his authority in 
the matter in the absence of a warrant, but he took the mat- 
ter under consideration and examined the statutes. It was 
clearly his duty to preserve the peace. The young man was 
doing nothing to break the peace, unless it was by singing out 
of tune ; but there was such a state of impending war in the 
choir that, unless something was done, the peace was likely to 
be broken into fragments, and there was even danger of 
bloodshed. The constable rose to the situation. Kindly, but 
with the persuasive authority of the law, he invited the young 
man to come down from his corner in the gallery and sit with 
him below. The young man consented, and when the lately 
distracted but now happy choir rose to sing, the prisoner from 
the side of the constable looked up at his late companions 
with sad and reproachful gaze, but his " voice was not in the 
song." 

In 1833 the new meeting house was built, and in the fol- 
lowing year the old house was torn down and the materials 
used to some extent in building the town hall, which still 
stands to the south of the site of the old meeting-house. 

In 1838 there was a strong opposition to Mr. Miller, and 
many insisted that they should have a young man. It was 



58 

proposed l)y way of compromise that a young man should be 
settled as colleague })astor, and Oct. 31, 1838, Rev. Calvin 
Butler was so settled, and he was dismissed March 17, 1840. 
Mr. Butler was a graduate of Dartmouth, with a good ac- 
quaintance with Ijooks, but rather lacking in knowledge of 
business matters. He was hardly open to the charge made 
against a former pastor, for the only instance of his " entang- 
ling himself with the cares of this life " was in his dealings 
Avith his i)ig. He undertook to keep a pig, and to that end 
1)uilt a fence, apparently under the impression that the pig 
was an animal given to jum]ting fences. He built the fence 
so high that there was no possil)lc danger of any pig jumping 
over it, )jut overlooked the fact that he had left ample space 
to crawl through at the bottom. Having finished the fence 
and put the occupant inside, he seemed to suppose that a high 
fence was sufficient for all its wants, or else he became so ab- 
sorl)ed in writing his sermon that he entirely forgot about 
anything else. At any rate he failed and neglected to give 
the pig anything to eat. The pig waited sometime growing 
more and more indignant at his inhospitable treatment, and 
then seemed to conclude that it was time to look up another 
boarding place. When the high fence came under his notice 
he gave a grunt of satisfaction, and walked through under- 
neath it and strolled across the Common. A neighbor sent 
word that the pig was taking his departure, and the clergy- 
man rushed out, not stopping for his hat, and gave chase. 
Overtaking the animal he attem})ted to drive him Ijack, but 
without using any of the diplomacy by which the Irishman in- 
duced his pig to go the way he wanted him to go by leading 
the deluded animal into the belief that he was going in the 
opposite direction. With words, deeds, kicks and blows he 
tried to drive that pig, but the more he tried to drive him the 
more resolute was the pig to go in the opposite direction. 
With his little eyes twinkling with the obstinacy of his race, 
and the recollection of short rations, the pig sometimes stood 



59 

at bay, then dodged by and then bolted between the legs of 
his owner, while the clergyman bareheaded, with the perspira- 
tion streaming down his face, tried in vain to drive the desert- 
ing pig back to the enclosure of the high fence. When the 
story was told about town there was a general feeling that not 
much was to be expected of a clergyman so ignorant of pig 
— and of human nature. 

Mr. Miller remained pastor until April 21, 1840, when he 
was dismissed. He afterwards preached for a number of 
years in Hawley, and in 1852 he delivered here a very inter- 
esting historical address which was published, and was de- 
voted mainly to the thirty-five years of his pastoral service. 

A son of Mr. Miller, Thomas Spencer Miller, was a young 
man of great promise. He was born in 1817, graduated at 
Amherst in 1839, was a college rival of Bishop Huntington of 
New York, and died while tutor at Amherst in 1843. 

Another son, Samuel F. Miller, was born Oct. 5, 1822, 
graduated at Amherst in 1848, was obliged by his health to 
give up the ministry, and became a railroad engineer, and 
was many years employed in building the Chicago and North- 
western Railroad. He was afterward professor in the Lake 
Forest University, and in the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 
lege at Amherst where he died Oct. 28, 1870. 

Hart Leavitt, Aaron Dickinson, Rev. W. A. Nichols and 
Rev. Lemuel Leonard married daughters of Mr. Miller. 

Rev. Cornelius Dickinson who graduated at Amherst in 
1860, and is now settled at Marietta, Ohio, and Rev. Samuel 
F. Dickinson who was educated at the Michigan State Univer- 
sity, are grandsons of Mr. Miller. 

Rev. Samuel M. Emerson, a brother of Dr. Joseph Emer- 
son and a son of Rev. John Emerson of Conway, Avas settled 
as the fourth pastor of the Congregational Church, Sept. 16, 
1840, and died while pastor July 20, 1841. Mr. Emerson 
was born in Conway, Nov. 17, 1785, and came of a long line 
of New England clergymen. He graduated at Willliams in 



60 

1810; was for some time tutor in Williams, and afterwards 
settled in Manchester for 19 years. He was a man of supe- 
rior abilities, a line preacher, devoted to his work, and of a 
singularly attractive and winning nature. The church was 
united in him and had he lived longer it would seem that the 
church might have had rest. 

Rev. Josiah Fisher was settled soon after Mr. Emerson's 
death, Sept. 7, 1812. He was born in 1802, was the son of 
Rev. Jonathan Fisher of Blue Hill, Me., and graduated at 
Bowdoin in 1828. He was a scholarly man, a fair preacher, 
a good pastor, and took a great interest in the education of 
the young. There was a strong opposition to him at the time 
of his settlement, and soon a large part of the Church with- 
drew and formed a new church which worshiped in the Bap- 
tist Church, and was supplied by Rev. Salmon Bennett. Mr. 
Fisher was dismissed in 1845, and the next year the members 
of the church who had withdrawn returned to the old 
church. 

From the time of Mr. Leavitt down to 1846, with the ex- 
ception of the brief ministry of Mr. Emerson, there was not a 
pastor of the Congregational Church against whom there was 
not, before the end of his pastorate, a strenuous opposition. 

Numerous councils made vain attempts to settle difficulties, 
and there has been at times hard feelings and bad blood. I 
cannot think that it was the fault of the clergymen. They 
were all men highly educated, above the average of New Eng- 
land clergymen in point of ability, of irreproachable lives, and 
they labored faitlifully and conscientiously in the discharge of 
their duties. At the same time it is quite clear that the peo- 
ple were not of a quarrelome disposition. Upon political 
questions they were in the early days a singularly united peo-" 
pie. They were never given to litigation, and there were 
very few quarrels outside the church. 

I think that the cause of these dissensions is to be found 
in the period and the age. It was a transition period. It 



61 

was an age of change and advance. A recent writer says, 
"the tail was constantly comming up to the place where the 
head had been." But when the head advaces it is not with- 
out a struggle that the tail comes forward. Sometimes the 
tail coils itself around the roots of old errors and the more 
the head seeks to go forward the more the tail pulls back. 
Miss Anna Maxwell says that men's minds were fluctuating 
and that there arose a new doctrine in 1803. My belief is 
that a new doctrine put in an appearance nearly every year 
about that time, and that many an old doctrine was buffeted 
under the horse-sheds, beset on the church steps and assailed 
and fought over around many a big fireplace in the long 
winter evenings. It was a period of intense mental activity 
which mainly centered about the pulpit. 

There were few books and few newspapers and hardlv any 
amusements. But they all went to church on Sundays, 
eager for a good sermon and sound doctrines. They expect- 
ed a doctrinal sermon at least once a week. Every week the 
clergyman had to grapple with predestination or the freedom 
of the will or some other great problem, and the tithingman 
had no trouble in keeping awake the hard old heads which 
held the most positive opinions upon every point of doctrine, 
and watched with untiring vigilance every statement of the 
clergyman. 

There are many things which lead me to the conclusion 
that here is to be found the cause of their church dissensions. 
The great charge against Mr. Leavitt was that he was taint- 
ed with Arminianism. 

The charges made against Mr. Strong were so weak that I 
am led to think that the real cause of the opposition was hos- 
tility to the doctrines he preached. Mr. Miller says that the 
opposition to himself was solely on account of his sentiments, 
and there is in the church records an account of a trial which 
points to the same conclusion. 

In 1811 Lieut. Ben. Maxwell was arraino-ed at the instance 



62 

of Dca. James White, charged with absenting himself from 
public worship, and upon the further charges of having re- 
quested the church to give him liberty to stay away, which 
request Bvo. White alleged was "walking disorderly." Bro. 
Maxwell admitted the regularity of the proceedings and did 
not even demur to the charge of "walking disorderly" in 
making such request. Part of his defence seems to have 
been in the nature of a set-off. He alleged that the people 
had treated him unfairly in not paying damages for taking 
some of his land for a road. His idea seems to have been, 
that against any damages the people had suffered from his 
own attendance at church, he might properly set off the 
damages to which he was entitled for the taking- of his land. 
But his main defence was that the pastor, in a Fast Day ser- 
mon, had advanced views of which he did not approve, and 
that in another sermon the pastor had made statements as to 
the "Divine Benevolence," which he, Bro. ]\Iaxwell, l)elieved 
were false. When a clergyman as sound and discreet as 
Parson Miller could not state his views upon the "Divine 
Benevolence," whatever they may have been, without a 
parishoner standing uj) and declaring they were false; it is 
evident that he was placed in a trying position. 

It is clear that in such a state of changing and coniiicting 
opinions the clergyman could hardly satisfy everyone. Ad- 
miral Farragut, with the simplicity of the old sailor, remark- 
ed, "you know in battle one is liable to be hurt." In such a 
war of opinions the fight raged around the clergyman. If he 
was in the advance he was charged with Arminianism or 
Socinianism or some other ism. If he was in the rear he was 
charged with old fogyism and with being behind the times. 
If he sought to occupy a middle ground he was ex])0sed to 
the fire of both the front and the rear. And yet this state of 
affairs was on the whole a good and healthful one. It mark- 
ed an era of progress. It was far better than a torpid or 
lithargic state. "Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of 



63 

Cathaj." Truth will hold her own in the battle. Her 
champions may be for the time worsted in argument, but the 
eternal foundations remain, and the errors of the hour will 
vanish like the fogs that sometimes cover the valley. 

I am disposed to think, therefore, that the opposition to the 
pastors, and the church dissensions of the past are to be at- 
tributed to the age, and are not to be set down to the dis- 
credit either of pastor or people. 

Since 1846 affairs have gone along rather smoothly with 
this church. Rev. Zolva Whittemore preached for several 
years. In 1851 Rev. Alpheus Graves was settled and re- 
mained pastor for some years. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Edward B. Emerson, and since then Rev. Messrs. C. W. 
Fifield, Rev. B. B. Cutler, E. F. Abbott, John C. Edgar, I. W. 
Peach have supplied the pulpit down to the present pastor, 
Rev. Joseph R. Flint, while Rev. B. B. Cutler residing here 
has been the reserve for an emergency. Rev. John C. Edgar 
was an Englishman who had seen service in the British 
Army, and rode in the famous charge of the Light Brigade at 
Balaklava. Rev. George H. Gould, D. D., of Worcester, 
preached the sermon at the time of his ordination. 

A flourishing Methodist Church formed in April, 1859, 
with a pretty church edifice at the west end of the Common, 
has grown up here in later years. Rev. Messrs. G. R. Bent, 
Moses Spencer and Lorenzo White were its early pastors, and 
it has been regularly supplied with preaching to its present 
pastor Rev. Jason Hatch. 

In the War of the Rebellion forty-two men went from this 
little town into the army. Of these there were four sons of 
Capt. William Gleason, a captain of the old Rifle Company, 
and three of the four were killed or died in the service. One 
young man, Lemuel M. Bolton, was killed at the age of 
twenty-one, having been in twenty-eight battles. Among 
these were some in whose veins flowed the blood of ancestors 
who had fought through the Revolution. 



64 

Among" those wIkj have gone from Heath there have ])een 
several artists Avorthy of mention. Philip S. Harris, son of 
Lennu'l Harris, was ])orn in Heath in 1824, and became a fair 
lan(lsca])e i)ainter, and a very fine portrait painter in Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. Some years ago he spent some time in Paris, and 
"while there painted the portraits of Hon. William ]\r. Evarts, 
Horace Greeley and other distinguished Americans "who were 
abroad. In that great centre of art these gentlemen found no 
better portrait painter than the boy who had gone from these 
hills. A short time before his death Mr. Harris was here 
and made sketches from several points, but his early death 
prevented the completion of the pictures. 

There are many names upon which I should be glad to lin- 
ger did time permit, but I cannot pass by the name of Josiah 
Gilbert Holland. Dr. Holland was l)orn in Belchertown July 
21, 1819, and, when he was about three years old, his parents 
removed to this town. Here he grew up in the little valley 
which his admii-ers have named " Holland Dell." Here he 
acquired his early education, and it is fair to assume that to 
the influences surrrounding him here, he was largely indebted 
for the great success of his life. In 1849 he became con- 
nected with the Springfield Republican, and his labors Avith 
those of that great newspaper man, Samuel Bowles, the sec- 
ond of an illustrious line of that name, placed that paper in 
the front rank of American Journals. It is one of the mar- 
vels of newspaper history that these men should have made a 
newspaper puljlishcd in a little inland city, the peer of any 
newspaper of our greatest cities. The published works of Dr. 
Holland, comjjrising nearly twenty volumes, have been widely 
read, and have exerted a wide and lasting influence upon his 
generation. 

It has sometimes l)een slightingly said that many of the 
Avritings of Dr. Holland are those of the schoolmaster, and 
that the truths he inculcated are old and common-place. I 
am inclined to think that Dr. Holland would have been will- 



65 

ing to accept this criticism. The truths that most nearly 
concern the lives of men and women are too old for any man 
to set up as their discoverer or to claim a copyright upon 
them, but the work of the schoolmaster is always in order. 
To inculcate these truths so as to reach the heart and life, 
was the work which Dr. Holland undertook to do, and which 
he did well. It may not be for us to say what place his 
works will hold in the permanent literature of the country, or 
whether or not that name, now surrounded with so many hal- 
lowed associations, will Ijc " One of the few, the immortal 
names that were not born to die." 

But this we may say with confidence that no man has done 
more to lead the minds of his age and generation to higher 
thinking, to nobler aims and better lives. And this may well 
satisfy the ambition of any man. The laurels gathered on 
the field of battle may wither and fade, but we should not 
" willingly let die " the flowers upon the grave of him who 
has made a generation wiser, happier and better. 

An hundred years have passed away since the incorporation 
of this town, and more than a hundred and thirty since 
the beginnings of its settlement. It is not a long time in the 
stately march of the centuries, but it embraces a period in the 
history of our country of unexampled progress and of great 
achievements. It is not for any place to claim an undue 
share in this progress and these achievements. " Heirs of all 
the ages," we have entered into the inheritance of all lands ; 
but it may be said without boasting that the sons and daugh- 
ters of this town have borne an honorajjle part in the work 
and conflicts, out of which has come the progress of the past 
hundred years. 

But they have gone from these fair scenes and these high 
places ! Yes, from the days of early settlement down to this 
time, they have been going East and West, North and South, 
to find other homes, to toil in other fields, and to die amid 
other scenes. 



66 

" On every height there lies repose," but it is not always on 
the heights that the battle of life is to be fought. 

To the disciple who stood on the Mount of Transfiguration, 
it seemed a good place to abide and build tabernacles. But 
he forgot for the moment the cry that came from the foot of 
the mountain, the cry of humanity t(jrn and rent by evil 
spirits. He forgot for the moment the multitudes throughout 
the world, sorrowing, sinning and suffering, for whom he was 
to come down from the mountain to labor and to die. It is 
well to go up into the mountain for inspiration and strength, 
it is well to grow up amid these elevating influences, but it is 
not on the mountain but in the valley that man's work is to 
be found. The great General of our age and country, around 
whose grave a sorrowing nation gathered but yesterday, is 
represented as saying that the cautious and stratgetic general 
who never fights a battle unless he can fight on his own chosen 
ground and where he is sure of victory, never fights at all ; 
and that the only way in which an enemy can be overthrown 
is l)y giving him battle where he is to be found, and there 
taking the chances of the fight. The enemy is not always 
found on the heights. He is more often in the valley, en- 
trenched on the plain, flaunting his banners in the great 
marts of trade ; and wherever the enemy has been found, the 
sons of this town have gone to do battle for the right. 

There is a story of an Acton farmer who, called upon to 
speak at a Concord celebration, after much glorification on 
the part of Concord men, said, that as near as he had been 
able to find out about that Concord fight, it was Concord that 
found the ground and Acton the men. The hit at Concord 
was far from being as fair or deserved as it was sharp, but 
the story reminds us that our interest is in the men who by 
their heroic deeds consecrate the place, rather than in the 
place itself. It is of Leonidas and his three hundred who 
stood there with the lofty resolve to die for the fatherland, 
that the traveller is thinking Avhen he looks with tearful eye 



67 

and swelling heart upon Thermopolse ; and we may say with 
confidence, that in the great struggles for the right in our 
country during the past hundred years, whatever other places- 
has found the ground, this place has found its fair share of 
the men. 

Yes, they have gone from these high places. They have 
gone to toil in a thousand fields of labor. They are scattered 
over all the great states of the West. They have gone to 
plant the school and the church in a thousand rising villages 
and cities. They have gone to strike off the shackles of long 
years of bondage, and to educate and lift up an oppressed 
race. They have gone to carry light to benighted and dark- 
ened thousands. They have gone to stand where banners 
waved. Oh ! the gallant boys who stood on the threshold of 
life, with all its hopes and visions before them, in whose ears 
were sounding the voices of home and affection, but who lis- 
tened to no other voice but that of their country, summoning 
them to her defence in the hour of her great peril, who went 
forth to toil along the weary march, to stand in the perilous. 
breach, to breathe out their young lives amid the thunder of 
battle. 

And many, ah how many, have gone to their last rest. 

" Alas, in yonder hallowed close, 

In kindred group and row. 
The mounds rise thicker than they rose 

An hundred years ago; 
O! fewer mounds were in the close, 

An hundred years ago." 

And not in " yonder hallowed close " alone do they sleep, 
but away, where the willow bends over many a country church- 
yard, on many a hillside where the tall pines murmur their 
requiem, amid the stately monuments of many a crowded city 
cemetery, far away amid the dust of many a battle-field con- 
secrated by their steadfast courage, on distant shores, in far 
off isles, in the ocean's depths. 



68 

They have gone ; the little ones ■svho })assed away in the un- 
clouded morning of life, leaving hearts long aching for the 
sound of their childish voices that vrere hushed in the eternal 
silence. They have gone, the young man in the pride of his 
streng-th, the maiden, in the bloom of her beauty, the strong 
ones stricken down in the midst of life's work and the midst 
of their usefulness — called to hiiiher work above, the sad and 
brokenhearted who went home to be comforted of God, they 
who gave their lives for others with a heroism grander than 
that of the warrior who rides to his death in the mad frenzy 
of battle ; they, the toil worn and aged, who stood on the bor- 
der and looked with dim but wistful eyes to the farther shore 
wdiither the companions of life's pilgrimage, and even the chil- 
dren who had played around their hearthstones, had gone 
before. 

We look at them through the gathering mists and the dark- 
ening shadows of the swiftly flying years. They look down 
upon us through the clearer light of loftier and more serene 
heights than these. They stand about us, that great company, 
no longer clad in this " vesture of decay," but in the radiant 
robes of the life immortal, and as we turn from this retrospect 
of the passing hour, let us with the old Roman salutation 
which has come echoing down the long centuries, which has 
been whispered so often, with sobbings and with tears, over 
the burial urn of the loved and lost, bid them one and all. 
Hail and Farewell. 



ADDRESS 

BY 

REV. C. E. DICKINSON, 

Of Marietta, Ohio. 



THE DEVELOPMENT AND INFLUENCE OF NEW ENGLAND IDEAS. 



The first permanent settlement in New England was made 
at Plymouth in 1620, by a company of Pilgrims who had fled 
from England to Holland eleven years before to escape from 
persecution. It was not an accident that this pilgrim church 
found a refuge for eleven years in that land of general intelli- 
gence, religious toleration and popular liberty. Those years 
were a link connecting our Republic with the Republic of the 
United Netherlands. The God of nations inserted that link 
in his chain of Providence by design. It was largely due to 
the lessons learned during those years that these Pilgrims 
were prepared to draw up and sign, in the cabin of the May- 
flower, that civil compact which was the original charter of 
American liberties. The Puritans, who settled on Massachu- 
setts Bay a few years later, sympathized with the Pilgrims in 
doctrine but remained connected with the State church while 
in England. "When they came to America they renounced 
the hierarchy and organized their churches on democratic 
principles, after the example of the Pilgrims. This Puritan 
emigration was maintained from 1628 until the assembling of 
the Long Parliament in 1640, at which time it substantially 
ceased. Mr. Palfrey (the historian) informs us that about 
1651 Cromwell sent four or five hundred Scotch prisoners to 
Boston, and a few years later about an equal number of 
French Huguenots came to Massachusetts, but the whole 



70 

niimljcr of emigrants during the 17th century did not exceed 
23,000. This comparatively small number constituted the 
original stock from Avhich has sprung the New England 
element of our population. From the time this emigration 
ceased until the people of New England began to emigrate in 
considerable numl^ers to other parts of the country was more 
than a century and a half — rather a long childhood — but I 
shall endeavor to show that it was avcU improved* During 
these years the people multiplied in Now England, and de- 
veloped their peculiar instutions and ideas. In his history, 
])ublished in 1858, Mr. Palfrey estimates that the descendants 
of the Xew England fathers were seven or eight millions, or 
one third the population of the country. Probably at the 
present time not much less than ten millions of people, or 
nearly one-fifth of our whole population, can trace their an- 
cestry through father or mother, or both, to the small com- 
pany of emigrants who settled in New England two and one- 
half centuries ago. The rulers of England were too narrow 
and bigoted to know that the men they drove out of the 
country were as noble as any England has ever produced. 
They included a considerable numl^cr educated at Oxford and 
Cambridge, who exerted a leading influence in the colony. 

Under the leadership of such men, the New England of the 
next century and a half was by no means a stagnation. It 
was rather a mighty reservoir of thought, in which were born 
and matured, not only men, but ideas and principles which 
"were destined to sweep across the continent and give charac- 
ter to this great nation. 

I propose to consider briefly a few leading New England 
ideas and show their influence on the country. The Puritans 
rejected the churchly traditions and priestly pretensions by 
which the thought of Europe had so long been fettered, and 
substituted the authority of the Scriptures. Their ideas of 
government were derived largely from the word of God, 
where they learned that all men are equal, and so adopted the 



71 

purest democracy in the g'overnmeiit of their churches. From 
self-government in the church it was an easy transition to 
self-government in the state. Their first principle of govern- 
ment was individuality. They had escaped from a condition 
of society where rulers were regarded as supreme, both in 
civil and religious affairs, and the individual was little more 
than a chessman, whom the ruler moved at will. They re- 
versed this principle and put the individual on the throne, 
trusting him to control himself. The individual learned truth 
from God's word, and was accountable to God for his con- 
duct. Next to the individual was the family, a divinely ap- 
pointed institution, where the children were taught to govern 
themselves. The Bible was their authority in family govern- 
ment. Some of their practices may seem severe according to 
our modern notions, but they were really successful from gen- 
eration to generation in training men and women of sterling 
character. We should not now want the sheriff to punish our 
children, as he sometimes did in olden times. I fear Young 
America would rebel, even if the parent did not, but our fath- 
ers believed that Solomon was right when he said : " He that 
spareth the rod hateth his son, but he that loveth him chas- 
teneth him betimes." The son needed the rod, and if parents 
were negligent, another must wield it. 

The next element of government above the family was the 
town meeting. This, as a sort of unit, lay at the foundation 
of their ideas of civil government, and therefore requires spec- 
ial attention. The ideas of a township and a town govern- 
ment have been a development in modern times, but were per- 
fected in New England. In England the town or tun was 
originally a fortification. This fortification was rude at first, 
but finally became the baronial castle. At length a consider- 
able population, consisting of tenants, servants and attend- 
ants, gathered about the castle and were included within the 
walls. This was a town. After a while the baronial estate 
came to be a township with a local government of which the 



72 

baron was the head, and these old liaronial haws, thoiig-h dif- 
fering from each other, were recognized by Parliament. In 
the Netherlands the Pilgrims had seen a purely democratic 
idea applied to local governments, and this was also the char- 
acter of their own church government. By combining these 
English and Dutch ideas, the fathers of New England evolved 
the township and the town meeting. Very early in the his- 
tory, townships were organized with fixed boundaries and of 
convenient size, so that all the inhabitants could meet to- 
gether for the transaction of business. Although at first only 
" freemen " could vote, others were expected to be present and 
take part in the deliberations, and later the franchise was ex- 
tended so as to embrace all male citizens above twenty-one 
years of age. The town meeting attended to settling minis- 
ters and providing for their salaries, establishing schools and 
employing teachers, constructing roads and bridges and all 
other business of common local interest. During the interval 
between town meetings, the affairs of the town were managed 
by representatives chosen by the people called Select men. 
Thus every town was a miniature republic. In the circular 
which was sent to former residents of this town respecting 
the present meeting occur these words : " In open meeting 
the town chose the subscribers a committee to carry their 
wishes into effect," etc. If a careful student of history should 
find a scrap of paper containing only these words he would 
know it belonged to a New England town. These words 
would be in history what a fossil bone is in geology. 

Above the town meeting in these colonial governments was 
the General Court, composed of the magistrates and deputies 
or representatives from the towns, who were finally organized 
into two houses of legislation and met at stated intervals to 
legislate concerning matters of interest to the whole colony. 

To these we may add the confederacy of colonies made in 
1643, probably suggested by the confederacy of the Nether- 
land States, and we have the foundation of the whole frame- 



73 

work of our g'overnment: (1) the Town; (2) the Common- 
wealth ; and (3) the Federal Union. 

These ideas were a developement in New England previous 
to the Revolution, and they so far leavened the other colonies 
that they were substantially adopted in the formation of the 
republic. De Tocqueville says : " The principles of New Eng- 
land spread at first to the neighboring States, then they pass- 
ed successively to more distant ones, and at length they 
imbued the whole confederacy. " 

Closely connected with these ideas of government and 
scarcely less important to the well being of the whole country 
is the New England idea of land distribution and tenure. 
There have been in modern times three distinct systems of 
land tenure. The first and most common is that which is 
founded in conquest. This awards to the strong the owner- 
ship of the land, and leaves the weak, tenants at will. In 
the second or communal system, (adopted in Russia,) the 
occupation of the land is essentially individual, but the owner- 
ship is in common. The third system is that which gives to 
each individual a title to his lands in fee sinple, the govern- 
ment retaining only the right of eminent domain, by which 
taxes may be levied and the land seized, for a just compen- 
sation, when the public welfare demands it. The first of 
these systems has always prevailed in England. The King, 
as conqueror, is the original owner of the land ; this has been 
bestowed upon the nobility in large hereditary estates, while 
those who cultivate the land are usually tenants at will. I 
have not been able to find any evidence that the Kings of 
England intended to establish any diferent system in the 
American colonies. The kings claimed the land here by the 
right of discovery, a species of conquest, and granted it to 
individuals or corporations, as their predecessors had granted 
the great estates of England. 

In Virginia the land was bestowed to a considerable extent 
in large individual grants, and later the colony allowed in- 



74 

dividuals to survey a track of such size and demensions as 
they desired, and locate it where they pleased. As a result 
there Avere established in tlie South large plantations, the 
owners of which were surrounded l)y a retinue of servants 
and attendants, somewhat analagous to the aristocracy of 
England. A very different system was developed in New 
England, of which the ^Massachusetts colony may be regarded 
as an example. The King ceded to the Plymouth Company 
the lands lying between latitude 40 and 48 degs. (north.) 
This company sold to the Governor and Company of Mass- 
achusetts Bay that portion between the mouths of the Charles 
and Merrimack rivers extending westward to the Pacific. It 
was on the eastern part of this land that the Massachusetts 
colony settled. The principle adopted by this company was 
to distribute the land in fee simple to actual settlers in com- 
paratively small parcels. We have already spoken of the 
town or township. The principle early adopted in Massachu- 
setts was that the colony should grant a charter for a town to 
a company of settlers on certain well defined conditions, 
among the most prominent of which were the following : (1) 
That they should actually settle the land within a definite 
time. (2) That they should organize a church and support 
a " learned and orthodox minister," and (3) That they should 
provide schools for the instruction of the children. A quota- 
tion from the History of the town of Hardwick, (Worcester 
county,) will illustrate this system : " January 17th, 1732, the 
General Court of Massachusetts granted six miles square for 
a township to be laid out in regular form by a surveyor and 
chainman under oath. The said land by them to be settled 
on the following conditions. That they, within the space of 
live years, settle and have on the spot sixty families, (the set- 
tlers to be none but natives of New England) each settler to 
build a good and convenient dwelling house of one story high, 
eighteen feet square at the least ; and clear and bring to, four 
acres fit for improvement, and three acres more well stocked 



75 

in English grass, and also lay out three shares in the town, 
each share to be one sixty-third part of the town, one share 
for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, and one for 
schools ; — and also build a convenient meetinghouse and set- 
tle a learned orthodox minister within the time aforesaid." 

About one month later the proprietors voted " that the 
lands be lotted out by a committee in such quantities that each 
proprietor have three lots, and so sorted as that in the draft 
each person may have a just and equal share." (The land 
was sorted according to quality or location, so that each pro- 
prietor had a house lot, a meadow lot and a pasture or wood 
lot.) Several important principles are here evident. (1) 
The land was divided into townships of convenient size. 
(The average seems to have been about six miles square.) 
(2) It was to be surveyed by a sworn surveyor, and a record 
made of the size and boundaries of the lots. (3) It was to 
be distributed in fee simple to actual settlers. (4) Portions 
were reserved for the ministry and for schools. 

Here was an evident effort to avoid a landed aristocracy or 
a monopoly of the land by speculators. My friend, Hon. W. 
P. Cutler of Ohio, I think with good reason, traces this sys- 
tem to the book of Joshua. The Puritans believed firmly in 
Scripture principles and they read, Joshua xviii, 9-10 : ^" And 
the men" (i.e. the surveyors) "went and passed through the 
land and described it by cities into seven parts in a book " 
(i.e. recorded the survey) " and came again to Joshua to the 
host at Shiloh. And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh 
before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land unto the 
children of Israel according to their divisions." Thus the 
Puritans had authority older than the English land laws. 
Among the first important acts of our Congress after the Rev- 
olution was one to fix the tenure of the land in the great 
Northwest Territory. 

Discussion naturally arose respecting the comparative mer- 
its of the Virginia and New England systems, but the latter 



76 

substantially prevailed in the ordinance of 1785 (the same 
year that Heath became a town), which provided for a survey 
of the government lands into regular ranges, townships, sec- 
tions, and quarter sections, and one section in each township, 
one thirty-sixth of the whole, set apart for schools. In our 
present land laws, perfected Ijy additions to this ordinance of 
1785, we recognize the following principles Avhich belonged to 
the early New England system : (1) A survey of the lands 
by a sworn government surveyor. (-) A di\"ision of these 
lands into townships and a division of townships into lots of 
convenient size for individual occupation. (3) A title in fee 
simple given on condition of occupying the land for a speci- 
fied time and making certain improvements. (4) An appro- 
priation of a portion of the lands in each township to schools. 
On account of the entire separation of church and state the 
appro})riation for the ministry is very properly omitted. 

It is an interesting historic fact that when the Ohio Com- 
pany purchased a million acres of land in southeastern Ohio, 
on which they commenced a settlement in 1788, special con- 
ditions were made by which the New England ministerial 
grant was retained. In the towns embraced within that pur- 
chase there is still an income from the lease of this ministe- 
rial section, which is divided among the churches of the town, 
according to the number of adherents in each. This is a fos- 
sil by which the historian may learn that this was a New 
England settlement. 

No man can estimate the value of these principles of land 
tenure which New England gave to the country. In all our 
interior and western states a man may very readily correct 
his title and the boundaries of his land from the original sur- 
veys, while in Virginia the lines of the original surveys arc 
frequently entirely obliterated, claims overlap each other, 
large tracts granted to non-residents have been forfeited and 
regranted, causing endless litigation and making it very diffi- 
cut to obtain perfect titles. 



77 

The fact that according to our system so many of the set- 
tlers become owners of the land in fee simple is of inestima- 
ble value to the stability of our government. Intelligent for- 
eigners have never ceased to wonder that we can receive such 
a multitude of people from abroad and so soon make them 
voters, although before coming here they were entirely igno- 
rant of the genius of our government. A principal reason 
why these foreign emigrants become a source of strength 
rather than weakness to our government, is because so many 
of them become land owners, and so are a part of the country. 
Communism, socialism and their kindred evils find little en- 
couragement from land owners. These evils are only to be 
feared among the crowds in our cities who have no property 
interests of their own at stake. Other nations might learn of 
us an important lesson in this respect. We cannot justify all 
the measures resorted to by the Irish agitators, but under a 
system of land tenure where the peasantry are only tenants at 
will, and improvements upon the land enrich others and often 
impoverish themselves by increased rents, it is not strange 
that they are ready to follow any leader who promises them 
relief, even though the method be destructive to property ; it 
is not their property. Make it possible for these peasants to 
become land owners, as here, and their relations to the gov- 
ernment would be greatly changed. 

Closely allied with the ordinance of 1785, and of incalcu- 
la]jle importance to our country, was the ordinance of 1787, 
which made additional provisions for education and also em- 
bodied the New England principle that slavery and involun- 
tary servitude, except for crime, should be forever excluded 
from the great northwest territory. 

If the cavaliers of Virginia had been permitted to lay out 
their plantations in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois — if Virginia 
and Kentucky instead of New England had given character to 
the settlers in these interior states — they would in all proba- 
bility have gone with the South instead of the North in the 



78 

civil wai'. In such a case it is not hard to believe that slavery 
instead of freedom would have become national, and long- 
before this Robert Toombs might have fulfilled his threat 
and called his slave roll at the foot of Bunker Hill Monu- 
ment. We owe both the formation and perpetuity of this 
Union to the prevalence of New England principles. 

These ideas of government and land tenure already men- 
tioned, were essentially religious in the minds of the Puritans 
because taught in God's word. They had also distinctively 
religious principles founded upon the teachings of the Scrip- 
tures. Prominent among these were (1) individual opinion 
(2) religious toleration and (3) separation of church and 
state. These principles were not perfectly discerned at first. 
The Puritans were like men in the morning twilight ; there 
was a gradual unfolding till the truth was clearly revealed, 
but the trend of thought from the first was toward the estab- 
lishment of these principles. Independence of individual 
opinion led, as before stated, to the purest democracy in 
church government. Hierarchical claims were so thoronghly 
repudiated that ministers who had been previously ordained 
by bishops of the English Church were reordained by the 
brethren when called to the pastorate of a church. Where 
every man thinks for himself, opinions will sometimes con- 
flict, for all men do not think alike even in the interpretation 
of Scripture. Thought stimulates thought, and as in a rich 
soil weeds will grow, so heresies have not been unknown in 
the soil of New England thought. These arc far Ijctter than 
stagnation, and the truth is likely to prevail in the end. 
Though there was no centralized church to be rent in twain 
by these agitations, there were sometimes divisions in indi- 
vidual churches, as there is likely to be while men remain im- 
perfect. Such divisions, though sometimes bitter, were usu- 
ally settled by Christian forbearance and mutual concessions ; 
or, when other means failed, by reference to men respected 
for Christian character and wisdom. History relates that a 



79 

division once arose in a certain church which it was difficult 
to settle, for both parties retained a good deal of unsanctified 
will. The matter was finally referred, by mutual consent, to 
Rev. Mr. Buckley of Colchester, who was reported a sound 
and just man. Mr. Buckley was greatly interested in farm- 
ing, and the same day that he wrote his letter of advice to the 
church he also wrote one to his farmer, which letters were in- 
terchanged by some accident, and when the messenger laid 
the good divine's letter before the cliurch it read as follows : 
" You will see to the repair of the fences, that they be ])uilt 
high and strong, and you will take special care of the old 
black bull.'''' The church gave diligent attention to this letter, 
and concluded that it was an exhortation to fence out sin, 
while the old black bull could be no other than Satan. The 
advice was heeded and the church became harmonious. "We 
are not informed what the farmer did with the church letter. 

Independence of thought could not well exist without relig- 
ious toleration. The Pilgrims had learned toleration from 
the Bible and had seen it exemplified in the Netherlands, and 
we can say it to their honor, that none were persecuted for re- 
ligious opinions in the Plymouth colony. The settlers of 
Massachusetts Bay, educated as they had been in the estal)- 
lished church, had not so thoroughly learned the lesson of 
toleration, and they did for a time persecute Quakers, and 
clairvoyants (witches). When we consider the intolerant 
spirit of that age, these persecutions are not more strange 
than the fact that they ceased here so much sooner than in 
England. 

It is quite common for a certain class of critics to charge 
the Puritans wdth intolerance and a union of church and 
state. Both of these charges are really true in fact, but at 
the same time such charges are eminently unfair because they 
do not correctly represent the spirit of the Puritans. Though 
these things did exist in the early history of New England, 
they did not belong to New England. They were what the 



80 

scientist "would call rudimcntal forms of thought, belonging to 
a previous English development and destined soon to disap- 
pear in the New England evolution. It was many years 
before there was any considerable growth of sects, and there 
was so much union of church and state that all the people 
were required Ijy law to aid in the support of the " learned 
and orthodox " minister in each town ; but Mr. Elliott (His- 
tory of New England, Vol. I, page 399) tells us that " the 
churches in Boston were always sup})orted by voluntary con- 
tributions (weekly), and many of the clergy were doubtful of 
the lawfulness of raising support in any other way." Soon 
after the introduction of other churches, laws were made, pro- 
viding that each person might choose what church he would 
support, and finally the whole matter of church support was 
made purely voluntary. It is evident to any observer that 
these three principles have leavened the religious thought of 
this whole country. We have no state church, and are not 
likely to have. The voluntary system of cliurch sup})ort 
everywhere prevails, and the right of every man to think for 
himself is fully recognized. 

The particular form of church fellowship whidh claims 
direct descent from the Pilgrims does not embrace as large a 
number of churches as some of the sects, but a majority of 
the churches of this country are governed by similar prin- 
ciples of democracy, and every church governed by other 
principles is more free for the leavening influence of the Pil- 
grim churches. 

Closely allied with religion in the minds of the fathers of 
New England was general education. One reason why they 
came to America was that they might make better provisions 
for their children. 

Five years after the settlement of Boston we find mention 
of a free school there, and later, whenever a town was 
chartered, it was upon the expressed condition that they 
should make })rovisions for schools. The following from the 



81 

records of the town of Salem in 1644, 1 quote from Dr. Hol- 
land's History of "Western Massachusetts, (Vol. 1, page 474) : 
" Ordered (by the magistrates) that a note be published on 
the next lecture day, that such as have children to be kept at 
school would bring in their names, and what they will give 
for one whole year ; and also that if any poor body hath child- 
ren or a child to be put to school, and not able to pay for 
their schooling, that the town will pay for it by rate. " 
Though this seems to have been a tuition school, the idea of 
a free school was beginning to dawn upon the minds of these 
magistrates causing them to provide for the education of the 
poor. In 1642, the Legislature passed an order that the 
selectmen of every town should require all parents to give 
their children the rudiments of an English education, cate- 
chise them on the principles of religion aud teach them some 
useful, honest employment. In 1647 laws Avere enacted re- 
quiring that the towns should sustain schools of various 
grades, and that all towns of one hundred families should 
" maintain a grammar school in which children may be pre- 
pared for college. " Here were really the foundation prin- 
ciples of the common and high school systems of this country, 
established two and a half centuries ago by men who had 
come from a country where such educational advantages were 
unknown. Mr. J. W. Taylor says (Manual of Ohio School 
System) :"The high distinction belongs to New England, and 
prominently to Massachusetts, of first proclaiming and estab- 
lishing the principle that is the right and duty of government 
to provide by means of fair and just taxation for the instruct- 
ion of all the youth of the land." 

The Virginia Colony reflected the sentiment of the English 
cavaliers, and was in marked contrast with Massachsetts. 
The governor of Virginia writes in 1671, " I thank God there 
are no free schools or printing in this colony, and I hope we 
shall not have them these hundred years, for learning has 
brought disobedience and heresies into the world, and print- 



ing' has divulg-ed these and libels against the best govern- 
ments. God keep us i'runi tluim." When the ordinance of 
1785 was passed, the Massachusetts rather than the A'"irginia 
ideas of education prevailed, and one section of land in each 
township was set apart for schools. This ordinance, supple- 
mented by the various State laws, has given to our interior 
States their excellent school system. The springs which rise 
in the little brown school houses on the bleak Xew P]ngland 
hills are a mighty river when they embrace the millions of 
children enrolled in the schools of our land. The Puritans 
looked farther than the common school, and very early made 
provision for higher education. Six years after the settle- 
ment of Boston, "the General Court appropriated X400 to 
erect a public school at Newton,"(now Cambridge.) Three 
years later, on account of the generous gift of one, John 
Harvard, the name of the school was changed to Harvard 
College. " In 1G45, by agreement, each family in the col- 
onies contributed one peck of corn or its equivalent, twelve 
pence in money or other commodity, for the endowments of 
this College. " 

As population increased other colleges were established, 
some of which now gather students from nearly every State 
of the Union. These colleges have always maintained a high 
standard ; indeed, up to the present time have largely regula- 
ted the standard of scholarship for the whole country. One of 
the most prominent characteristics of these colleges is that 
they are Christian, but not sectarian. Harvard, Yale, Will- 
iams, Amherst, Dartmouth, Bowdoin and Middlebury have 
always been dominated by Christian influences, but none of 
them have ever been under ecclesiastical control. Similar 
colleges have been founded in nearly all the interior and some 
of the Southern States. These colleges are now supplement- 
ed by the denominational college and the State University, 
both of which are popular and doing good work, but neither 
of these, alone, is likely to do the catholic Christian work of 



83 

the New England college. It is not probable that either class 
of college will prevail in this country to the exclusion of the 
others, but it is a significant fact that at the present time 
most of our leading State universities are presided over by 
Christian men of the New England type, and the denomina- 
tional colleges are broader for the influence of the New Eng- 
land colleges. Thus these instituions have been a very im- 
portant leavening power in the higher education of the coun- 
try. 

It is a fact of great significance in connection with the 
ideas and principles we have considered, that during the 
almost two centuries when people were multiplying in New 
England, and these ideas were being developed in the labora- 
tory of their thought, the population was almost entirely rural. 
Until half a century ago, Boston was the only city in Massa- 
chusetts. The country is a far better place in which to 
raise men than the city. It has been in the country towns 
that New England men and ideas have been born and matur- 
ed. A late writer in the Andovcr Review (Rev. S. W. Dike, 
June, 1885, page 37) says : " The productiveness of good and 
evil of these isolated neighborhoods or families is simply 
marvelous. The same number of men count for much more 
in them than on the back streets of cities. The isolation 
of early life tends to develope forceful characters of all 
sorts. " Plenty of good air and exercise give good physical 
devclopement. The young are more inclined to read and 
think in the intervals of work and have less evil temptation 
and associates than in cities. President J. L. Pickard says, 
(North American Review, May 1 , 1885): "Agricultural com- 
munities have ever been distinguished for good order and sta- 
bility." The excitements of a large city rapidly consume a 
man's powers of body and mind. It is the testimony of those 
who have investigated the subject that our cities would l^e de- 
populated in a few generations if they were not continally re- 
cruited by the healthy blood of the country towns. Statistics 



84 

show that a large proportion of our successful Ijusiness men 
and a majority of the celebrated men in all the professions 
have been born in the country. I believe we have never had 
a President of the United Sjtates and only one Chief Justice 
of the Supreme Court who was born in a large city. Prof. 
W. S. Tyler, D. D. , who has been connected with Amherst 
College for more than fifty years, informs me that during the 
first half century of the existence of that institution " Eighty 
per cent, of the students enrolled were from small towns 
and the country, and only twenty per cent, (or one-fifth of 
the whole) from cities and large towns." 

" Of college honors twenty-one per cent, have been taken 
by young men from cities and large towns and seventy-nine 
per cent, from the country, but this slight superiority of one 
per cent, in honors is more than counterbalanced by a large 
per cent, of failures and cases of discipline from the cities, 
and a large per cent, of ministers and other useful men, work- 
ing with brain and heart, from the country." It may proper- 
ly be added that most young men who are dependent upon 
their own resources are from the country, and these are often 
compelled to interrupt their studies in order to earn the 
necessary money for term Ijills. On this account they are 
more likely to miss the college honors than they are the hon- 
ors which are given later in life. President I. W. Andrews, 
D. D. , connected with Marietta College during almost its 
whole existence, informs me that only about eleven per cent, 
of the graduates of that college are from cities, and eighty- 
nine per cent. , or sevoi^eig-Iiths of the whole, from the coun- 
try towns. 

It was near the beginning of the present century that the 
gathered forces of New England, which could no longer be 
confined within its narrow limits, began to overflow into Cen- 
tral and Western New York, and a little later into the great 
North West territory. Men and women, imbued with the 
ideas already nu'utloncd, were well i)rei)arcd to lay the 



85 

foundations of the great States which have grown up in the 
territory north and west of the Ohio river, and to exert a leav- 
ening power among the heterogeneous people there collected. 
The original grants to the colonies included the lands lying 
between certain parallels and extending from ocean to ocean. 
The western limits of Xew England lie only a little ways 
toward the Pacific, but New England men and ideas have fol- 
lowed the original grants and spread from ocean to ocean in a 
constantly widening stream. When it reaches the Mississippi 
river it extends from the Lake of the Woods to the mouth of 
the Ohio, and when it touches the Pacific its northern bank is 
the British possessions, and its southern the Republic of 
Mexico. But the New England emigration westward com- 
menced within twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims 
at Plymouth Rock. It was true then, as it has been since, 

that 

" The American haven of eternal rest 
Lies ever just a little farther west." 

There was a good deal of land for 23,000 people to possess 
before they reached the Hudson river. 

The settlement of Heath belonged to the third general 
westward emigration in New Ji]ngland. The Puritans poss- 
essed a good degree of native penetration, and were in search 
of the best farms. The soil along the Atlantic coast was thin 
and soon exhausted, and so within the first decade adventur- 
ers penetrated the wilderness and discovered the rich mead- 
ows along the Connecticut river. During the remaining part 
of that century the tide of emigration was to that valley. 

The progress was necessarily slow, for people were not very 
numerous, but by the year 1700 settlements were made in 
nearly all the towns as far North as the boundry of Massa- 
chusetts. The second emigration was into the region 
between the seaboard towns and the Connecticut valley, and 
occupied the first half of the 18th century. About 1750 the 
people of Worcester and adjoining counties became sufficient- 



86 

ly numerous to begin to say to their young men, " Go West, 
and grow np with the country," and their West was the val- 
leys and hills beyond the Connecticut. 

According to Dr. Holland and other authorities, settlements 
were commenced in Colraine about 1735 ; in Ashfield aljout 
1745 ; in Shelburn ahout 1756 ; in Charlemont about 1752, 
and in what is now Heath, only a few years later. Thus the 
settlement of this town was made just about half way from 
the settlement of Massachusetts Bay to the present time. It 
was made when the people of New England had become thor- 
oughly Americanized, and the ideas I have mentioned were 
defined. It was about the close of the French and Indian 
wars, and when the public mind was intensively alive upon 
the important questions which were so soon to involve the 
Colonies in the war of the Revolution. The first settlers in 
Heath came mostly from Worcester County, several of them 
from the town of Worcester. Some traced their ancestry 
back to Plymouth Rock, others to Massachusetts Bay, and a 
few were descendants of Irish Presbyterians. A majority 
were Puritans in character and doctrine. I would not like to 
disparage the present inhabitants of a neighboring town, but 
there are pretty well authenticated traditions that previous to 
the separation of the towns, this portion of Charlemont em- 
braced the better part of the population. Atlts organization. 
Heath inherited one-half of the old Charlemont meeting house 
and a school-house. The town soon purchased the half of the 
meeting-house belonging to Charlemont, and it was occupied 
upon the old site till 1789, when it was removed to the centre 
where it was occupied till 1883, Avhon the present edifice was 
erected and the material in the old church was used in the 
construction of the town hall. The first year, the town voted 
to build another school-house, which was located at the Cen- 
tre. One month after the organization of the town, a church 
was formed with thirty-five members. Every family in the 
town except one was embraced in the congregation. The 



87 

to'svn voted that year to appropriate £20 for preaching and 
X15 for schools. Thus the settlers of this town laid the foun- 
dation of this church and the school at the first. Heath has 
never been and probably never will be a populous or wealthy 
town, but the value of work done here through the church, 
the school and the family, cannot 1)e estimated. A Roman 
mother said of her children : " These are my jewels." The 
great wealth of Heath consists of the men and women here 
educated for lives of usefulness. Here, as elsewhere, men are 
depraved — the bad are mingled with the good, yet few towns 
of equal population have sent out more persons who have hon- 
ored themselves and the place of their nativity than Heath. 
The Puritan character of the first inhabitants has lingered 
among their descendants like a fragrance, and we still feel its 
influence. The man who did far more than any other to give 
character to the religious and educational forces of this town 
was Rev. Moses Miller, pastor of the Congregational Church 
here during thirty-six of the best years in the history of the 
town (from 1804 to 1840.) 

Mr. Miller delivered a historical discourse Oct. 13, 1852, 
whiqh was subsequently published and contains a valualjle his- 
tory of the town previous to that date, interwoven with the 
account of his own work. But no such history can describe 
all the waves of influence which such a man starts uj^on their 
way, and which shall continue to broaden as they reach the 
descendants for many generations of those he instructed. 
Speaking of the period which followed the great revivals of 
1822-3, under his ministry, during which 121 were added to 
the church by profession, he says : " The population at that 
period was a few less than 1200 ; this church had 316 mem- 
bers, the Baptist Church about 100, and others a few. More 
than one-third of the population of the town, and a majority 
of the adults, were professors of religion. During eight or 
ten years, I believe, there was no society in this vicinity which 
contained so large a proportion of intelligent youth, and who 



"were governed by the principles and morality of the gospel. 
We were considered at that period as rather a model commu- 
nity. A native of Heath (Rev. J. C. Thompson), now an 
octogenarian, and probably as well qualified as any man liv- 
ing to give such testimony, has lately written me in answer to 
a letter of inquiry, that, while the district schools had been 
previously sustained, a very great impulse was given to the 
cause of education by this revival of 1822-3. Men of collegi- 
ate education were employed as teachers in some of the dis- 
tricts, and select schools were introduced largely through Mr. 
Miller's influence, which were held during the autumn and 
sometimes continued through the winter and spring, and col- 
lected students from several of the neighboring towns. In 
these schools young men were fitted for college, and very 
many of both sexes were educated for teachers and for in- 
creased usefulness in other positions. Mr. Miller also had 
young men under his special instruction. Of his influence, 
this gentleman writes : " He was a man who walked with 
God ; the same godly man in the pulpit and out. Notwith- 
standing the ministerial dignity which the customs of those 
times required him to maintain, he was a cordial, sympathiz- 
ing friend to all who consulted him, young or old. He ex- 
pended his best energies in promoting the spiritual welfare of 
his people, and rejoiced most heartily when he saw that ad- 
vancing, yet he was untiring in his efforts to promote their 
intellectual advancement." Another (Rev. L. Leonard), 
writes me ; " My acquaintance with the schools of Heath com- 
menced in February, 1829, when I attended the select school 
of Mansfield French. These select schools, embracing a Fall 
term and sometimes a Winter and Spring term, gave a great 
impulse to general and special education. Sometimes teach- 
ers of rare scholarship were employed." He adds respecting 
Mr. ^Miller : " His influence in the schools was very great and 
stinudating ; his influence in the pastorate was also great and 
pervading." He quotes from a Christian lady, a native of 



89 

Heath, who said in after life, " that she had never attended 
church in any place where it seemed to her the influences 
were so unifiormly for God and heaven as there." 

A native of an adjoining town (Rev. T. H. Hawks, D.D.), 
who used sometimes to hear Mr. Miller preach, writes me ; 
" He seemed to me in the days when I first went to church 
the impersonation of dignity, sanctity and learning." A good 
lady (Mrs. Felicia Emerson Welch), writes me : "I was too 
young to know much about him as a preacher and a pastor, 
but I remember how I was impressed with his dignity, and 
compared him with Washington. I felt greatly honored when 
he spoke to me. It seems it was a part of his duty to visit all 
the schools in town, and it was a great occasion when the 
minister and committee visited the little red school-house on 
the hill." 

The quotations I have made are examples of the testimony 
l)orne by former inhabitants of Heath respecting the charac- 
ter and work of Mr. Miller. We frequently smile when we 
read the history of the Xew England towns at the frequent 
repetition of the words " a learned and Orthodox, minister " 
but these words were far from superfluous in the minds of the 
Puritans. These words meant to them that the minister 
should be so thoroughly " learned " that he could give wise 
direction to all the educational forces of the town, and so Or- 
thodox in head and heart that his teaching would be in har- 
mony with God's word. Judged by the testimony given, Mr. 
Miller combined in an eminent practical degree these two 
qualities. Having had for thirty-six years a model New Eng- 
land pastor with a Puritan church to sustain him, it is not 
strange that this was a model town. 

The people of Heath during the period just descril^ed were 
interested in higher education than that furnished in their 
own schools. In the original subscription to the charity fund 
of Amherst college (given in Prof. Tyler's history), I find 
8085 credited to Heath. In addition to this Mr. ^liller savs :, 



90 

"Nearly all the limo f<jr the first building" was gratuitously 
transported l)y individuals in this community and a part of it 
paid for. One room in that building was finished and fur- 
nished by ladies in this society. This people also contributed 
(Sj1200 to Mount Holyoke Female Seminary." 

During the twenty-four years, from 1829 to 1852 inclusive, 
ten natives of Heath graduated from college, and several young 
ladies studied at Mount Holyoke, or some other ladies' 
seminary. 

According to the l)est information I have been able to 
gather, Heath has furnished one member of Congress (Hon. 
William Snow), two judges (Hon. Jonathan Leavitt and Hon. 
Jackson Temple), twelve lawyers, fourteen clergymen, one 
(Rev. Lowell W. Smith) a foreign missionary, and thirty-three 
physicans. (See Appendix.) Also a large number of 
teachers of both sexes, some of them eminent in the profess- 
ion, and many farmers, tradesmen and mechanics who have 
honored their station in life. Twenty-three natives of Heath 
have graduated from college, and four others, residents but 
not natives. Seven natives and two residents, not natives, 
have taken a partial college course. (See Appendix.) 

The noble women of Heath deserve as honorable mention 
as the sterner sex. To woman is given the highest of all 
human responsibilities, that of training the young during the 
tender and impressive period of their lives. If she does not 
vote, or preach, or debate in Congress, or decide legal ques- 
tions on the bench, she educates voters, ministers. Congress- 
men and Judges. Much of her work belongs to what we may 
call unwritten history, but He who searcheth the heart re- 
cords it all, and when His books are opened we shall read 
volumes of noble and heroic deeds performed in what men 
call humble spheres. It will then appear that manv a man 
reared in these country towns owes more of character to his 
faithful Chi'istian mother than to teachers, or even the 
"learned and orthodox minister." The greatest charms 



91 

which gather about childhood, home and native town, cluster 
in that word mother. No country has had nobler mothers 
than New England, and no part of New England surpasses 
these hill towns in this respect. If the women of Heath have 
not occupied as public positions as the men, they have been 
no less faithful in their place and work. More than fifty 
natives of Heath have studied at Higher Female Seminaries, 
three have married lawyers, sixteen have married ministers, 
(three of these foreign missionaries ;) fourteen have married 
physicians. (See appendix.) One, (Mrs. Susan Reed 
Howland,) previous to going as a missionary to India was a 
teacher in Mount Holyoke Seminary and still lives to see four 
of her children foreign missionaries. One, (Mrs. Felecia 
Emerson Welch,) is the wife of an eminent Supreme Judge 
in the State of Ohio. One, (Mrs. Sarah Jane Hastings 
Nichols, )has been for many years a successful teacher in 
Rochester, N. Y., and is one of the best mathematicians in 
that State. One, (Miss Elizabeth M. Dickinson,)has held 
high positions in the schools of Kansas ; and One, (Miss 
Hattie White,) is a teacher in a seminary at Cape of Good 
Hope, South Africa. Our poetess needs no eulogy from me ; 
she has spoken for herself. There have been a multitude of 
others as noble as these I have mentioned. Some have gone 
to their reward and others are still at their work. 

Not long after the time of its greatest prosperity. Heath 
began to give up its population in emigrations to the west, 
which have continued to the present time. Several times as 
many inhabitants of Heath have removed as now remain. 

My home at the present time is at Marietta, Ohio, where 
the first permanent settlement in the north-west territory was 
made in 1788. I have lately learned that Mr. Mansfield 
French, who was just now mentioned as a teacher in Heath in 
1829, was in 1831 one of the proprietors of the Collegiate 
Institute at Marietta, which a little after became Marietta 
College; and the valedictorian in the first class which gradu- 



92 

atcd from that institution was Samuel Hall, for some time a 
resident, though not a native of Heath. Among the papers 
preserved l)y the church of which I (a native of Heath )am 
noAv pastor, arc church letters in the hand writing of Rev. 
Moses Miller, dismissing five members from the church in 
Heath to the church in Marietta. I have had knowledge of 
over thirty churches in other places which have received valu- 
able acquisitions from Heath, and there are doubtless scores 
of others. 

If we felt that the work of Heath was completed — if it 
stood like some of the castles of the old world — a mere ruin 
of the past — we would teach our children to visit these hill- 
tops and pay their tribute of respect to the memory of the 
noble men and women who have been raised here. But the 
work of Heath is not yet completed. Influences similar to 
these, which have moulded character here during the century 
past, should continue to operate in the centuries to come. 
Proljaljly some of these youth have wished you had been 
born and reared among more stiring scenes ; as a boy I was 
not a stranger to such a wish, but in later years I have thanked 
God many times that I spent my youth here instead of 
among the evil associations of our cities. In the future, as in 
the past, many of the most valuable students in our colleges 
and higher seminaries — successful business men — men in all 
the leading professions and Presidents of the nation — will be 
born and reared in the country. There should continue to be 
a succession of young men and women from Heath who 
should graduate from our colleges and higher institutions, and 
be prepared to occupy posticus of trust. You have pure air 
to develop sound, healthy bodies. You have better facilities 
for securing books and periodicals than were enjoyed fifty 
years ago, and the means for acquiring a higher education 
are within the reach of all who strive after them. It is true 
the soil of Heath is not as ])roductive as it was half a century 
affo, but this is still a crand soil on which to raise men and 



93 

women. We, who will so sooii have finished our earthlv 
career, call upon you to do better work than those who have 
preceded you. I am proud to trace my nativity to a town 
where the soil was never so productive as to beget undue 
avarice ; where there were no crowded factory villages with 
their demoralizing influences, and no mining camps with 
their gambling and speculation, but where the air is pure and 
bracing, and the moral and religious atmosphere such as to 
stimulate thought and develop character. If we cannot boast 
to-day that a large number of railway kings or millionaires 
have been natives of Heath, we can boast of a goodly number 
of men and women with clear heads and clean hands and 
pure hearts, who have done faithful work in this life, and 
shall receive a large reward in the next. 



ADDRESS 

BY 

PROF. A. L. PERRY, 

Of Williams College. 



FORT SHIRLEY. 



Mr. President : 

This is the Heath Centennial ; but I have been asked to 
speak about matters that took place long before the settlement 
of this town ; about Fort Shirley, that was built within your 
limits as a town forty-one years before the event of settlement 
that we are commemorating to-day. An interest in Fort 
Shirley is nothing new with me. It was not excited by your 
request that I should address this audience upon that theme. 
It has so happened that I have made a study for many }'ears 
of this and its kindred forts along the old military line ; that I 
have repeatedly visited and critically examined its site ; and 
that I have in my possession at Williamstown the chief mov- 
able memorials of what was indeed a small, yet in its histor- 
ical connections a deeply interesting, military outpost. 

The first Avhite men known or supposed to have ever pene- 
trated the original forests in the town of Heath were Richard 
Hazen and six others, the surveyor and chain-men and their 
assistants, who ran the ofificial northern line of Massachusetts 
in the early spring of 1741. Jk'sides the surveyor himself, 
who was then a prominent citizen of Haverhill, on the Merri- 
mac, and his son of the same name, then nineteen years old, 
the party consisted of Caleb Swan, Benjamin Smith, Zachariah 
Hildrith, Ebcnezer Shaw and William Richardson. Under an 
imperative order from the Privy Council in England, Governor 



95 

Belcher, who at that time administered government over both 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, commissioned Hazen to 
run the ultimate line between the two, beginning at a point 
three miles north of Pawtucket Falls on the Merrimac (now 
Lowell), and extending on a due west course till it should 
meet His Majesty's other Goverments. This arbitrary deci- 
sion of the Privy Council in selecting the very southernmost 
point in the whole course of the Merrimac, as the place meant 
in the Old Charter of Massachusetts in the phrase " Merrimack 
River," instead of taking, as Massachusetts claimed, the 
northernmost point of the river in Franklin, N. H., or as New 
Hampshire had claimed, the point at the mouth of the river, 
robbed Massachusetts of a strip of territory fourteen miles 
wide the whole length of the Colony, which New Hampshire 
had never before claimed, but which her shrewd and unscru- 
pulous Agent now extorted from the ignorance of English 
Councillors. 

Hazen began his survey March 21, 1741. The English 
instructions required a course due west, and Governor 
Belcher and his Council ordered ten degrees for the then 
variation of the needle, which was not quite enough, so that 
the line actually ran slightly north of due west, and saved to 
Massachusetts at the west end' of the line (in Williamstown) 
about 1 deg. and 50 min. After the party left the Connecticut 
river on April 6, they slept on snow at a depth of two or three 
feet every night till they crossed the Hoosac river in Williams- 
town on April 12. " It clouded over before Night and rained 
sometime before day which caused us to stretch Our blankets 
and lye under them on ye bare Ground, which was the first 
bare ground we laid on after we left Northfield." It was on 
April 9 that they measured the present north line of Heath. 
Let the clear-eyed surveyor describe in his own words the gen- 
eral situation of the future Fort Shirley. 

" At the End of three miles we came to a large brook run- 
ning Southeasterlv and at the End of this days measure to 



96 

anotlici- large brook running Southerly, 1;\' ^vhicll wc took Our 
lodging. Here %ve tract a Bear and thcrefoi'c named it Bear 
brook, both these brooks being Ijranches of Deerfield River. 
The land this day was some of the best of Land and for three 
miles together. The last year Pigeons' nests were so thick 
that 500 might have been told on the beech trees at One time, 
and they could have been counted on the Hemlocks as well, I 
believe three thousand at one turn Round. The snow was for 
ye most part three feet deep, the weather was fair and wind 
Northwest." 

Although Hazen named the last mountain on his line where 
he supposed the eastern line of New York, would ultimately 
run " Mount Belcher," in honor of the Governor who had 
commissioned him to lay it, the just unpopularity of the line 
itself and Belcher's connection with it immediately caused his 
recall from his government, and the appointment of "William 
Shirley in his stead. Belcher was Massachusetts born ; while 
Shirley, though British born, Ijecame one of the aljlest and 
most successful of all the colonial governors of ^Massachusetts. 
The building of Fort Shirley in 1744 and the naming it after 
the new Governor, as well as the building a little later of the 
two forts to the westward, — Fort Pelham in Rowe and Fort 
Massachusetts in what is now North Adams, — all within a 
couple of miles of the new boundary line, showed a concern of 
the colony for its now greatly curtailed northern limits, as 
well as a much greater concern for the defence of the scattered 
settlements west of the Connecticut river from the French and 
Indians, who had several well-trod war-paths to the English 
settlements on the Connecticut and the Dcerlield. 

But, after all, the route ])y the Hoosac River had lieen and 
continued the main path from Canada to New England for 
the French and their savage Indian allies. "Whether they 
came down the Hudson to the mouth of the Hoosac at 
Schaghticoke, or struck that river on the flank at Eagle 
Bridge, there Avas a well-l)eatcn trail — the old ^Mohawk trail — 



97 

along the north bank of that river all the way from Schaghti- 
coke to what is now North Adams ; and, in continuation of 
that river trail, the " old Indian path" over the Hoosac ]Moun- 
tain, directly over the line of the present Hoosac Tunnel, led 
down to the upper reaches of the Deerfield river and so down 
to the Connecticut at old Deerfield. It became, therefore, of 
great moment to Massachusetts to defend the line of the 
Deerfield in the French and Indian war of 174J:-48. A few 
private houses were fortified in what is now Bernardston, and 
two or three more further west in Coleraine, particularly Fort 
Lucas and Fort Morrison, the owners being assisted hy grants 
of men and supplies from the General Court ; and during this 
war and more especially the next and last French war, the 
Indians often lurked with hostile intent in the vicinity of these 
extemporized forts, and not infrequently surprised and killed 
and scalped men from the little garrisons, and carried women 
and children into captivity to Canada. 

But the first regular fort built to protect the valley of the 
Deerfield and incidentally also the line of the Connecticut, 
was placed by Massachusetts in the present town of Heath. 
It was built wholly at the pul)lic expense, and garrisoned l\v 
regularly enlisted or impressed soldiers, and named Fort 
Shirley from the enterprising Governor of the Province. 
John Stoddard of Northampton was then Colonel of the militia 
of Hampshire, a designation at that time including all of 
Massachusetts west of the Connecticut River ; he was Shirley's 
right-hand man for this end of the Province, and it was under 
his general direction that Forts Shirley and Pelham and 
Massachusetts were erected. 

The letter is still extant in Stoddard's own hand, dated 
July 20, 1744, in which Capt, William Williams is ordered 
by him "to erect as soon as may be" a block-house sixty feet 
square "about five miles and a half from Hugh Morrison's 
house in Colrain in or near the line run last week under the 
direction of Col. Timo. Dwioht bv our order." In the same 



98 

letter, AVilliams is directed to cmj)loy soldiers in the con- 
struction of the fort, cari)enters to be allowed " nine shillings, 
others six shillings a day old Tenor." Several other direc- 
tions arc given, and the main outlines of the fort are pre- 
scriljcd ; some bills are still extant giving items of money paid 
out for many different parts of the work ; six of the original 
hewn timbers of the building are in good preservation to-day 
in the barn of Orsamus Maxwell in Heath, each stick telling 
some talc of the original mode of construction ; so that, from 
all these sources of information, a pretty accurate idea of the 
old fort can ho made out to-day, 141 years after it Avas built. 

For the outside, white pine logs were scored down, and 
then hewn to six inches thick and fourteen inches high ; and 
the scores worked 48 days on these, receiving £ 14, 8s. for 
their work, and the hewers 24 days, receiving £ 10' 16s. 
The walls of the fort were twelve feet high, thus requiring 
nine courses of these timbers laid edgewise one above another, 
each being doweled to the one below by red oak dowel-pins, 
two of which were pulled out of their quiet resting places of 
141 years' duration, in a good state of preservation, by Mr. 
Maxwell and the writer, Sept. 5, 1885. Those ends of these 
tim]3ers that came to the four corners of the fort were dove- 
tailed into each other in the well known manner, so that 
there were straight lines and strong locking at the corners ; 
and it so happens, that three of the six timbers preserved are 
corner timbers, and show at one end the exact mode of lock- 
ing. 

There were two momits on two corners of the fort 12 feet 
square and 7 feet high ; and the houses and barracks within 
the fort were eleven feet wide with shingled roofs ; and the 
mount-timber, the insidcs of the houses, and the floors, were 
all hewn, presumably of the same width and thickness as the 
wall-timbers. Undoubtedly the whole parade in the middle 
of the fort was also floored in the same way, as the s ite of 
the fort was and is low and wet. 



99 

The fort was built in this manner during the months of 
August, Septeml)er, and October, 174-4 ; and on the 30th of 
the last mentioned month, Capt. Williams commenced to 
billet himself and the soldiers imder his command at the fort. 
He remained there all the winter and spring ; about the 1st 
of March he enlisted 14 of his men for the Louisluirg Expedi- 
tion, at Col. Stoddard's request, whom he took to Boston ; but 
was not himself allowed to embark, and returned to his fort ; 
while later in the season, under a strong call for reinforce- 
ments for Louisburg by Gov. Shirley, Williams took 74 aljle 
bodied men to Boston, recruited by himself in less than six 
days mostly in the Connecticut valley, and was given a Lieu- 
tenant colonel's commission in the regiment destined for 
Louisburg commanded by Col. John Choate. They sailed in 
June, 1745, but the fortress had l)een taken before they 
arrived, and the regiment with Williams as acting Colonel 
was detained there to do garrison duty. 

Fort Pelham in Rowe, was built by Williams before he left 
for Louisburg, that is, in the spring of 1745 ; and in the au- 
tumn of that year we find Capt. Ephraim Williams, a kinsman 
of the other, afterwards founder of Williams College, in com- 
mand of Fort Shirley and of the other line of forts. It is fair 
to presume that he was appointed to the command on the 
withdrawal of the other in June ; but which of the two built 
Fort Massachusetts along the same line, or whether either of 
them, can not now be statedwith absolute certainty. It is prob- 
able that Ephraim Williams saw to its construction under 
the Committee of the General Court, of which Stoddard Avas 
Chairman ; and at any rate he was in command of the whole 
" line of Forts, viz., N'orthficld, Falltown, Colrain, Fort 
Shirley, Fort Pelham, Fort ^Massachusetts, and the soldiers 
posted at the Collars, Shattucks Fort, Bridgman's, Deerficld, 
Rhode ToAvn, and Xew Hampton," as early as Dec. 10, 1745. 
Just a year from that time he sends in his account for the 
entire year, — "In which time he has had three hundred and 
fifty men under his particular charge and government." 



100 

Because it was the first fort built by the Colony in that 
region, and esi)ecially because fort Massachusetts was cap- 
tured and burnt by the French and Indians in August, 1746, 
Shirley became very prominent in that war, and was the head- 
quarters of the successive commanders of the line of forts. 
Massachusetts was rebuilt early in 1747, and thereafter be- 
came the chief work ; for both before and after the Peace of 
Aix la Chapclle in 1748, it was perceived that the sites of 
Shirley and Pelham, had been ill-chosen, and that the route 
by the Hoosac was the one to ]je kept open for hostile de- 
monstration towards Crown Point, and the one to be defended 
against hostile demonstration from all that quarter. Forts 
Shirley and Pelham, accordingly, which were very difierently 
constructed, ceased to be of much military significance after 
the Peace, though both were slightly garrisoned for several 
years after. In 1749 and a part certainly of the next year, 
there were five men only in Fort Shirley, namely, Lieutenant 
William Lyman, Gershom Hawks, John Powell, Samuel Steb- 
bins, and Peter Bove. From June, 1725 till the end of May, 
1754, one man in each constituted the garrison of Shirley and 
Pelham. xirchibald Powell held watch and ward on the 
heights of Heath, and George Hall on the lofty meadow in 
Rowe. Each drew his pay from the treasury of the colony ; 
and each had a magnificent lookout from his solitary sentry- 
box. Monadnock is in plain sight to the east, and Haystack to 
the north from the site of Fort Shirley and the Hoosacs to the 
west and Greylock overtopping them greeted the roving gaze 
of George Hall from the picketed enclosure of Fort Pelham. 

There was but one chaplain to the line of forts, Rev. John 
Norton, appointed from Falltown in 1745, who passed from 
one to the other as his sense of duty to each garrison might 
prompt ; and Mrs. Norton with one or two children lived in 
Fort Shirley for more than a year while her husband was in 
captivity in Canada. Scouting parties of the soldiers were 
kept constantly jtassing from fort to fort when not employed 



101 

in garrison or other duty ; there allowance on the march was 
each soldier per day one pound of bread, one pound of pork, 
and one gill of rum ; while in garrison each man was allowed 
per day one pound of bread, and one half pint of peas or 
beans, two pounds of pork for three days, and one gallon of 
moUasses for 42 days. It is certain, that one or more cows 
were kept by the garrison of Fort Shirley, perhaps on account 
of Mrs. Norton and her children, for there was a cleared field 
around the fort, and an old cow-bell half eaten up Ijy rust was 
found not long ago near its site, which site, it must be re- 
meml)ered, was several miles from any habitation of men at 
any time in the last century. 

After an existence of one hundred and forty-one years, the 
old well of Fort Shirley, which was undoubtedly within the 
block-house and probably in one corner of the enclosure away 
from the " parade, " is able to tell pretty thoroughly to this 
day the story of its own construction. Four forest staddles 
about six inches in diameter, one for each corner of the well, 
were set upright on the ground, and then ash planks rived 
from a log about five feet long were pinned or spiked on the 
outside of these staddles, beginning at the bottom ; and this 
frame being placed on the ground where the well was to be, 
the earth was thrown out over the sides, and so the well was 
gradually sunk to the required depth, the plank-siding being 
added gradually as the shaft was lowered. These rived 
planks and the tops of the four corner-poles, that can now be 
seen and fingered less than two feet below the surface of the 
ground, were not very uniform in thickness, and of course 
have rotted off at the top by time and exposure ; but enough 
of both has been preserved till this time by constant submer- 
gence in the water and in the unusually moist soil above it to 
betray without any serious question the nature of the materials 
used and the mode of their employment. One of the corner- 
posts was a black birch and the bark on it is in a good state of 
preservation at and below the surface of the water. 



102 

The last incident to ])C mentioned at this time in connection 
■with Fort Shirley relates to the Rev. John Norton, his wife 
and daughter. Norton was horn in Berlin, Conn., in 1716 ; 
was graduated at Yale College in 1737 ; was ordained in Fall 
Town, since Bernardston, Mass., in 1741 ; he was the first 
minister in that town, " Ijut owing to the unsettled state of 
the times," and to the fact that his people lay right in the 
angle between the military line of the Connecticut and that of 
the Deerfield, and had consequently as much as they could do, 
to maintain their families exposed as they were, he labored 
there al)out four years, and was appointed chaplain to the 
line of forts almost as soon as the men were fairly in garrison. 
He was in Fort Massachusetts when it was besieged and cap- 
tured by an army of French and Indians in August, 1746 ; 
went captive with the rest of the garrison to Quel^ec ; returned, 
exchanged, in just a year ; and wrote an account of the siege, 
the journey northwards, the captivity, and the return, a 
precious little book, which he entitled after a memorable 
precedent " The Redeemed Captive." His narrative begins as 
follows.—" Thursday, August 14, 1746, 1 left Fort Shirley in 
company with Dr. Williams and about fourteen of the soldiers ; 
we went to Pelham Fort, and from thence to Captain Rice's, 
where we lodged that night. Friday, the loth, we went from 
thence to Fort Massachusetts, where I designed to have 
tarried aljout a month. Saturday, 16th, the Doctor with 
fourteen men, went off for Deerfield, and left in the fort 
Sergeant John Ha^^'l<;s with twenty soldiers, about half of them 
sick with bloody flux." 

"We can not now follow the good chaplain in his deeply 
interesting narrative. He makes no mention in it of his 
family, Init it is certain from other data that he left Mrs. 
Norton and his young children in garrison at Fort Shirley, 
and that just about the time of his return from captivity to 
Boston, which was August 16, 1747, his little girl, Anna, died 
at the fort and was buried in the field a little to the west of it. 



103 

Probably some soldier in the fort chiselled upon the rude 
stone the inscription as follows : 

Hear lys ye body of Anna 

D : of ye Rev : 

Mr. John Norton. She died 

Aug ; ye — aged — 1747. 

This stone stood there in the bleak field exposed to the 
suns of summer and the storms of winter for more than one 
hundred and thirty years. The day of August on which she 
died and the number of years she had lived have become 
illegible by exposure, — impossible to be deciphered. The 
stone has lately been removed to Williams College, aud with 
its companion relic, a stick of one of the timbers of Fort 
Shirley, and a few other memorials of the well and fort, are 
safe in a fire-proof building. 

The tradition is still lively in Heath, and it may well be an 
historical fact for it has been handed down by an aged citizen 
there whose life began with the century, that there used to 
come up from Connecticut on an occasional pilgrimage to the 
site of Fort Shirley and particularly to the grave of Anna 
Norton some of her relatives. This is very likely ; for John 
Norton became in 1748 a pastor in the parish of East 
Hampton, Middlesex Co., Conn., where he died in 1778 ; and 
one may still read on his tomljstone there the following- 
inscription : 

In Mex^iory of 

The Rev. John Norton 

Pastor op the 3d Church in Chatham 

Who died with Small Pox 

March 24th AD 1778 

In the 63d Year of his Age. 

He left several children. Among them an unmarried 
daughter, who lived till 1825. It is no mean touch and print 
of \itix\ human sympathy that is left upon the sod beneath the 
great tree in Shirley-field by the figure of one who came and 



104 

came again from a distant place to catch, it may be, a note 
from the dreary Past and drop a tear njion the grave of a 
sister wliom she never saw. 

" To his Excellency William Shirley, Esq., Capt. Gen. and 
Gov'r in Chief of this Province, the Hon ble his Majesty's 
Council & House of Representatives in Gen. Court assembled — 

The Memorial of John Norton of Springfield in the County 
of Hampshire, Clerk, humbly showeth That in the month of 
February, 1746, he entered into the Service of the Province as 
a Chaplain for the Line of Forts on the Western Frontier and 
continued in that service until the Twentieth day of August 
following, when he was captivated at Fort Massachusetts and 
carried to Canada l)y the enemy, where he was detained a 
prisoner for the space of twelve months, during which time 
he constantly officiated as a chaplain among his fellow-pris- 
oners in the best manner he was able under the great difficul- 
ties and suffering of his imprisonment, and your Humble 
Petit'r begs leave further to inform your ExccH'c. & Honors 
that besides the great Difficulties and Hardships that your 
Petit'r indured dtiring his captivity aljroad, he and his family 
Ijy means thereof are reduced to great Straight and Difficul- 
ties at home. He therefore prays your Excell'c. and Honors 
would take his distressed Circumstances into your wiser Con- 
sideration and grant him such Help and Relief as your 
Excell'c, and Honors in your Wisdom and Goodness shall 
deem meet, and your memorialist as in duty Ijound shall ever 
pray. John Norton. 

Springfield, Jan. 25, 1748. 
[endoksed] 

In the House of Representatives, Feb. 23, 1748. 
Read and Ordered that the sum of £37, 10s. be allowed 
the memorialist in consideration of this officiating as Chaplain 
to the Prisoners whilst in captivity at Canada. 
In council read & concurred 

Consented to W. Hutchinson, Speaker. 

W. Shirley. J. Willard, Scc'y. 



105 

Mr. President, it was the rational curiosity, perhaps the 
antiquarian interest, of one of your early and distinijuished 
citizens. Col. Asaph White, who owned and occupied the farm 
which you now own and occupy, to which we are indebted for 
the pririlege of seeing upon this platform to-day a genuine 
relic, an actual piece of old Fort Shirley. I beg that it may 
be held up and exhibited to this interested audience as soon 
as I am done. When the fort was finally dismantled. Col. 
White conveyed to his own premises, probably out of historical 
interest and for the sake of preserving them, at least six of 
the original timbers of the fort ; and this relic, which j^ou 
have kindly presented to me, i^ a part of one of them ; and 
from these timbers we can reconstruct in our mind's eye the 
entire fort as it stood when Chaplain Norton left it in August, 
1746, or when Ephraim Williams left it as its commandant at 
the Peace of Aix la Chapelle. Fortunate, providential, 
blessed, was the foresight and care of Col. White ; and his 
grandson, my friend, and the friend of mankind, yea also, the 
friend of God, Joseph White of Williamstown, to whom Heath 
is dear as the home of his ancestors and the place of his own 
partial schooling, still lives in an honored old age, and though 
too ill to be with us to-day, is with us in spirit, and will follow 
with deep and intelligent sympathy all the sayings and the 
doings of the Heath Centennial. 



A TRIBUTE 

TO 

COLONEL R. H. LEAVITT, 

By Dk. Josiaii Troav, Bucklaxd, Mass. 



Mr. President: 

Probably no man in this congregation had looked forward 
to this occasion with the anxiety and interest of our friend 
and brother Col. R. H. Leavitt. He had long been preparing 
for and felt that he could not be denied this privilege of meet- 
ing many of the friends of his youth and early manhood, grasp 
their hands and here sit down on these grand old hills and 
mountains, renewing their youth as they talked of the scenes 
of their childhood, the changes in themselves, in their homes, 
their neighbors, the changes in everything, in nature upon 
which the eye could rest. To be sure, these old hills and 
mountains remain. They could drink from the same pure, 
bubbling fountains, could breathe the same air, could look 
upon the same starlit heavens. 

Is it strange that our brother looked forward to this meet- 
ing anticipating so much ? No, here he was born. His eyes 
first saw the light on these hills. The pure air and water, 
the exercise and manner of living which were his, produced 
that physical form which enabled him to do so much and to 
stand erect as he breasted the storms of eighty winters. 
Here also he received that mental, moral and religious train- 
ing which helped to round up his life so perfectly and fit him 
for usefulness. Here he found and married the wife of his 
youth. Here were born his two oldest daughters. Here he 
spent his early manhood. Heath was then in her glory, her 
homes and farms were among the best, her people were sec- 
ond to none in their intelligence, thrift, and manhood. Her 
educational and religious institutions were of the highest 



107 

order, in fact, shining forth from these mountain heights 
like a bright and morning star. 

It was to this home he expected to return and these scenes 
to live over with his friends on this Centennial day, but God 
had otherwise ordered. It is not in man that walketh to 
direct his steps. 

I find his biographer in the History of the Connecticut Val- 
ley tells us he was born July 21, 1805, that he was educated 
in the common schools of Heath, and in Hopkins' Academy, 
that he commenced teaching at nineteen and taught for nine 
years. 

He moved to Charlemont in 1835. He was two years 
president of the Deerfield Valley Agricultural Society, three 
years deligate to the Agricultural Board. He was an anti- 
slavery man during the Rebellion, and was Colonel of the 
militia. He served two years in the Massachusetts Legislature 
as represenative, and one in the Massachusetts Senate. He, 
with Judge Grinnell and Sheriff Reed of Greenfield, were 
corporate members in the charter of the Troy and Greenfield 
railroad. 

He was a strong temperance man, and was hardly willing 
to use stimulants when recommended to him by his physician 
in the last weeks of his life. He was an anti-tobacco man, 
was a great reader and well informed on all the important 
subjects of the day. He was an independent thinker, a strong 
reasoner, a very active, energetic man. Mr. Leavitt was four 
times married : — in 1829 to Keziah Hunt of Heath, in 1839 to 
Eliza Hunt of Heath, in 1877 to Mrs. H. Ryland Warriner of 
Philadelphia, and some three years since to Miss Lucy Trow- 
bridge of Buckland, who survives him. 

He early became interested in the Troy and Greenfield rail- 
road, and often said it would be the salvation of these hill 
towns, by developing their resources, which could be so suc- 
cessfully developed in no other way. He said the Lord had 
placed the Hoosac Mountain between the Hoosac and Deer- 
field Vallies to try the Yankee pluck. The time was com- 



108 

ming when much of the commerce of the world would pass 
through the Hoosac Mountain, Europe and China meeting 
there ; which prophecy proved itself true while the prophet 
was still living. 

What would Heath, Rowe, Charlemont and Buckland be to- 
day without the tunnel ? Now these mountain fastnesses are 
broken, earth's bosom is being opened and the glittering 
treasures exposed to the light of day. 

Sir, is it too much to believe that the time is soon coming 
when California shall yield the palm, when the sons of New 
England who have sought for gold on the shores of the Pacif- 
ic, shall return to dig and find treasures, wealth and homes 
amid these rock-bound mountains upon which we stand to- 
day ? 

There was a time when it seemed that the tunnel scheme 
would fall through. Boston had lost its faith in the enter- 
prise. The company had a meeting about this time and Col. 
Leavitt was chosen a director. The next day one of the Bos- 
ton papers said, " the tunnel will now prove a success ; yester- 
day they chose a man, in the midst of life, up among the 
mountains, who has energy and perseverance and under- 
stands all about its wants, and the tunnel will go." Sir, this 
was his great life work, which is for all coming time. 

The names of John Porter of Buckland and Col. R. H. 
Leavitt of Charlemont should be written in characters of 
living light on the portals of the Tunnel. 

But enough of this. Providence ordered it kindly for him 
at the last . With his wife he should travel over this road 
to the homes of his children in the far West, should be per- 
mitted to die in their arms, and his remains brought back 
and buried on the banks of the Deerfield river near his home 
in sight of this road in that beautiful valley. God grant that 
his dust may quietly slumber there till the sound of the arch- 
angel's trumphet shall wake the dead to life again, and call 
earth's teeming millions home to their eternal rewards. 



Heath— Once Prosperous ; What Shall 
Her Future Be? 



RESPONDED TO BY 

Dr. THERON TEMPLE, Waltham, Mass. 



Mr. President and Felloiv Citizens : 

Why I have been selected as the prophet of this occasion, 
is a problem I have been unable to solve. But, as a loyal 
citizen, I have responded to the summons of your committee. 

We have " no way of judging of the future, but by the 
past." What your past has been you have heard to-day 
from lips more eloquent than mine. 

The Hon. Horace Maynard of Tennessee once asked a 
farmer, on the hills of Berkshire, " what the farmers raised on 
those mountains? " The answer was " we raise men, sir." A 
life of ten years in the great metropolis of New England has 
taught me that volumes are comprised in that brief reply. If 
you would fully comprehend its meaning, go to the great busi- 
ness centers of our State, and you will find in the counting 
rooms of the great commercial and mercantile houses, men 
whose boyhood homes were on these hills. Go to the offices 
of our great railways and you will see there, as superinten- 
dents and engineers, men who received their early and perhaps 
only education in the district schools of the country towns. 
Visit the offices of our Daily Press, that power which moves 
the world, and you will find the editorial chairs occupied by 
men familiar with the dicipline and routine of those same 
district schools. Wend your way up to the Capitol of our 
State and enter the halls of our Legislature, and among the 



110 

members who are ablest and foremost in debate you will learn 
that a good percentage are from the country districts. The 
leader of the present House of Representatives was a boy 
from the green hills of Vermont. — The pastors and deacons 
in the city churches are, very largely, men who received their 
early training from Christian mothers in the modest, rural 
home. The moral atmosphere of our great cities is not con- 
genial to the production of great and noble men women. The 
immortal Lincoln, Grant and Garfield were all familiar with 
the privations of the country home ; and imljibcd the funda- 
mental principles of their future greatness from Christian 
mothers in the little log cabins of our western frontier. The 
toils and struggles and adversities of life are but the polish- 
ing dust which brings out the full luster of the diamond ; and 
the lives and deeds of those great men will continue to shine 
in our country's history through future ages. An influence 
has gone out from this our native town, through her sons and 
daughters, that shall leave its impress for good on genera- 
tions yet unborn. Young men and young women, cherish 
the Puritan principles of your ancestors. I sometimes think 
it would be well were we to solemnly consecrate the landing 
place of our "Pilgrim Fathers" as the Mecca of New Eng- 
land, to which our youth should annually make a pilgrimage 
and plant their feet on Old Plymouth Rock and sit in the 
shadow of that giant statue of the " Goddess of Faith " which 
looks out upon the mighty deep over the trackless pathway of 
of the Mayflower, as if to welcome her coming, and there 
receive a new baptism into the faith and principles which 
brought them to our shores. The Puritanism of New Eng- 
land is the rock on which our Republican institutions are 
founded. It is the salt and salvation of this good Old Com- 
monwealth to-day. It is the leaven that is to pervade our 
nation, if this Republic is to endure. The great influx of 
foreign population into our cities is rapidly crushing out the 
principles of our fathers. Only a few months since, the con- 



Ill 

servators of morality and good order in our Capital city, 
found themselves in a hopeless minority. The drug shops, 
the gambling dens and houses of ill fame controlled the 
officers of the law and held high carnival, at Midday, on the 
principal streets of the city. What did the law abiding cit- 
izens do ? In their extremity they " stretched out their hands 
to the hills from whence their help cometh," and when one 
saw the sturdy honest men from the hills of little Franklin, 
Hampshire and Berkshire coming to the rescue we felt that 
we were safe. We knew what kind of men were reared in 
the Christian homes of Western Massachusetts. By your help 
the charter of the city of Boston was amended. The '-Metro- 
politan Police Bill " was passed. The emissaries of the liquor 
saloons and the gambling halls were dismayed, and as a result 
to-day thousands of wives and mothers, sisters and daughters, 
with tears of gratitude, send you greetings of " God bless 
you. " Such have been some of the fruits of your past and 
what your past has been, your future is to be, enlarged and 
broadened by experience and the progress of civilization. 
Judging by the past you have a mission yet to perform which 
you little realize. The tide of emigration from the country 
towns of New England to the great west, is at its flood and 
will soon be stayed ; and there is to be a reaction. The great 
multitude of emigrants from the old world are rapidly popu- 
lating our western prairies ; and the cheap labor , which their 
habits and simple modes of life afford, has greatly diminished 
the opportunities for the speedy accumulation of wealth by 
the New Englander and he is already turning his gaze back 
towards his native hills in the east — agricultural schools and 
colleges have been established and a new impetus given to ag- 
ricultural persuits in New England. 

I predict that, at no distant day, we shall again see on these 
hills, flocks and herds more numerous than at any time in the 
past. Liverpool, London and Glasgow have thrown open 
their markets to you, and every year their agents are coming 



112 

directly to your doors to purchase the products of your farms. 
Every day the great iron ships of Europe are leaving our 
princijial port laden with the golden fruit of your orchards, 
your cattle and sheep and the products of your dairies, with 
which to feed the vast population of her great cities and man- 
ufacturing districts. 

But the most important product of these quiet country 
homes will be, in the future, as in the past, noble men and 
ivomen whose characters and morals are untainted by the 
vices of our great cities : Christian men and women who, like 
the *Elizabeth (Betsy) Taylors, the fSusan Reeds and 
JMartha Sawyers of the past, shall go out to educate and 
Christianize the ignorant and the heathen of the lands who 
have come to our own shores, completing at home what they 
so nobly begun in other climes, and among the savage tribes 
of America; and whose labors and memories, like theirs, shall 
bless mankind, and be stored among the most precious treas- 
ures of succeeding generations. 



t Mrs. E.T. Ayer, missionary to the Indians in the northwest. 
* Mrs. Susan Howland, missionary to India, 
} Martha Burnell, missionary to Ceylon. 



Our Brave Soldiers— Cheers for the 
Living ; Tears for the Dead. 



RESPONDED TO BY 

FRANCIS M.THOMPSON, of Greenfield. 



Mr. President: 

I must say that I think of my next older brother to-day, 
with a good deal of envy : as he can say that he was born in 
this good old town of Heath, where my father and mother 
lived for several years, but moved to Colerain too early to give 
me Heath as a birth place. 

But sir ; my grandfather, Capt. Edward Adams, of Adams- 
ville, from 1795 to 1835, ground the Heath grain, sawed the 
Heath logs, fulled the Heath cloth, made the Heath apples 
into cider, and the cider into brandy, made the ashes from the 
Heath hills into potash, and sold the Heath men West India 
molasses and New England rum, for at least a generation : so 
I claim an interest in this Heath Centennial. 

It is eminently proper in the celebration of the centennial 
birth day of a town like this, whose hills, I am told, echoed 
the cannon shots fired by Ethan Allen at Bennington, and 
among whose ranks were several men from this town ; that 
some notice should be taken of those brave sons of the town 
who have offered their lives, and their sacred honor, for its, 
and their common country's preservation. And I am sorry, 
Mr. President, that your committee did not accept the advice 
I gave them, and call upon some of the brave men who have 
returned from the late war, to respond to the sentiment you 
have called upon me to answer, but I suppose that your com- 
mittee were confronted by the fact that the truly brave, are 



114 

also very modest, and so I am called to speak for those too 
modest to speak for themselves. 

We, who were at man's estate, at the breaking out of the 
great rebellion, are wont when we think of war, and of sol- 
diers, to only remember that war, and those soldiers. 

We watched the tide which ebbed and flowed with victory 
or defeat for our brave boys, with so much fear and trembling, 
that its scenes are so indelibly fixed upon our minds, that it 
requires an effort to carry our thoughts back a hundred years, 
and think of the men and women who watched and waited 
for news from their soldiers, — men whose war equipments 
and commissary and sanitary arrangements were not to be 
compared with those of our men in the grand army. Conse- 
quently their sufferings and sacrifices were far greater than is 
now usual to the soldier. 

Neither do we remember that this town of Heath was the 
very child of war — born in the midst of a hand to hand 
struggle with a lurking foe, who hunted among these hills 
and valleys, and who were in turn hunted by the brave and 
undaunted scouts and settlers — nourished in infancy by the 
men and women who survived the barbarities of the French 
and Indian war — and christened at the close of the Revolu- 
tion — taking the name of one of Gen. Washingtons most 
trusted lieutenants — Major General William Heath. 

General Heath was born in Roxbury, March 2d, 1737. He 
was a Captain in a Suffolk regiment, and in 1770 Captain of 
the Ancient & Honorable Artillery, afterward a Provincial 
Colonel, and a member of the Provincial Legislature, — was a 
Provincial Brigadier in 1775, and made a Major General by 
the Continental Congress. 

His service during the war was principally near New York 
and upon the Hudson. He was in charge of Burgoyne and 
his men after the surrender, and some of the persons who 
hear my voice to-day,owe to the leniency of General Heath, 
to their fathers that they are good Americans to-day, as 



115 

according to tradition, many of the Burgoyne men settled in 
this vicinity. 

Gen. Heath was a member of the Massachusetts senate in 
1791 and 1792, Judge of Probate for Norfolk in 93, and was 
elected Lt. Gov. in 1796, but declined to serve. He died Jan. 
24, 1814 : the latest surviving Major General of the Revolu- 
tion. 

In his " Memoirs " he writes concerning the Concord and 
Lexington affrays, " In this battle I was several times greatly 
exposed, in particular at the high plain at the upper end of 
Menotomy, and also on the plain below the Meeting house. 
On the latter, Dr. Joseph Warren, (afterwards Major General 
Warren) who kept constantly near me, was but a few feet 
distant when a musket ball from the enemy came so near his 
head as to strike the pin out of his ear-lock. On this plain, 
Dr. Eliphalet Downer, in single combat with a British soldier 
killed him on the spot by thrusting him nearly through with 
his bayonet." 

Of Col. Maxwell, and other heroes of that time, I need not 
speak. 

With such a history, and such antecedents, why should not 
Heath have made an honorable record in the Great Rebellion. 
It was impossible for the worthy sons of noble sires, to sit 
calmly by, and not take part in the struggle for the preserva- 
tion of the Union. 

When, in its peril, the country called for her sons, there 
went forth from these hills, as noble a band of young and 
sturdy men as ever responded to the call of duty, in any age 
or any clime ; impressed with the feeling, that the great liber- 
ties won by the valor of these noble sires, ought to be pre- 
served, and that which had been bought by the blood of the 
fathers ought, if need be, to be preserved by the blood of the 
sons and continued unimpared to future generations. 

The remembrance of the valor of these revolutionary sires, 
sustained these men — these soldiers — upon the long and 



116 

weary march, tlic dreary and dangerous night watch — in the 
sullen and gloomy retreat, and often in the dear-bought vic- 
tory : and they felt honored in the thought that they might 
walk and suffer in the way marked ont by the fathers of 
old. 

While at times disheartened by general disaster, the 
soldiers were as a body intent upon the welfare of the country, 
and never dispaired of the future of the Republic, or the gov- 
ernment which protected and upheld popular rights, and they 
steadily kept faith in the advanced civilization which they were 
helping to mould, and in the righteousness of their cause 
before a just God. 

Cheers for the living ! 

What higher honor can any man court, than to be able to 
say,"I was with Grant ! " or " I was with Sherman ! " and to 
feel that his own right arm helped to sustain the institutions 
of his country, so dearly bought, and had helped to loosen 
the shackles from the limbs of an enslaved race, and raise to 
freedom four millions of down trodden people, lifting them 
from degradation to the broad plain of equality and American 
citizenship — one of the grandest movements the world has 
ever seen. 

I say, to be able to claim an active participation in scenes 
like these, is enough to repay for all the years of sufferings 
and deprivation w^hich our soldiers underwent. 

The modest decorations which custom allows our surviving 
soldiers to wear, are symbols of honor equal to the emblems 
of knighthood, conferred by any crowned head upon his will- 
ing subjects, or the ribbon of the Legion of Honor, estab- 
lished by Napoleon for his brave men. 

The work for which they ventured all, is nobly done. A 
new era of prosperity for the Republic, was opened by the re- 
sults of the war, and the faith which sustained the army was 
realized. Twenty years have passed since the immense 
armies of the great Captain, who has so recently passed away, 



117 

laid aside their weapons of war, and returned to the ways of 
peace ; and witliout the least confusion or commotion, again 
took up the usual avocations of life, which excited the amaze- 
ment of all monarchies, and the wonder and applause of all 
lovers of our free institutions, and attested the virtues of the 
material of our army and the stability of our form of govern- 
ment. 

The willing representatives of a generous and self-sacrific- 
ing people, have established a system of pensions, for the sup- 
port and comfort of the invalid survivors of our armies, and 
their dependant relatives, of such magnitude as no other na- 
tion ever dreamed — and the countless shafts and monuments 
raised to the memory of our honored dead, in our National 
Cemeteries, and among our cities and towns — as well as the 
provision of the government for marking individual graves 
of deceased soldiers, attest the controlling spirit of the living ; 
that the services of those who so nobly died for their country, 
shall never be forgotten, and as we pass the rural graveyards 
and cemeteries in onr country homes, we see the little flags 
which loving hands have placed over the graves of dead he- 
roes, whose names will hardly appear upon the pages of any 
written history, that upon the day made sacred to the memory 
of the dead comrades, they may be covered with flowers, in 
remembrance of their services to their country. 

Though their dust may mingle with the sands of the South, 
in ignoble graves, where they were cast from the vile prisons 
in which they suffered and died — or are buried upon the 
battle field, with the unknown dead, in unmarked graves ; or a 
kindlier Providence permits them to rest under the Orange 
tree or the Magnolia — or gathered from the battle fields and 
hospitals, they sleep in the National Cemeteries, so kindly 
snd so safely guarded by the representatives of a grateful nat- 
tion — or having survived for a season, braving all the 
dangers of the field and the pestilence, they have at last sur- 
rendered in their own homes, to that greatest foe, and by 



118 

gentle hands, have been laid to rest among their fathers, 
upon these hill sides ; their sublime patriotism — their noble 
heriosm — their heroic sacrifices, and their innumerable suf- 
ferings, shall never be forgotten by a grateful people : and as 
the survivors grow less and less in numbers, as the years roll 
on ; so shall our children honor them more and more, until 
they are remembered with all that reverence, love and admi- 
ration, with which we in our time, have remembered the Rev- 
olutionary fathers, whose virtues they have so nobly imi- 
tated. 



"Soldier, rest ! thy warfare o'er, 
Dream of fighting-fields no more : 
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking, 
Morn of toil, nor night of waking." 



APPENDIX 



I 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Keminiscences of Sixty Years ago, by Mks. Sarah C. Emerson, 

OF Amherst. 

Sixty years ago there was north of the Branch considerable uncultivated 
land covered with forest trees, maple, beech and spruce, and a few fami- 
lies were then living in log cabins — which were made in this way: the 
purchaser of a lot would cut down some trees and clear an acre or two, and 
build his cabin of trees sawed into equal lengths, so that they could 
be matched at the four corners cobhouse fashion. The inside was sealed 
with the bark taken from spruce trees at a time when it would peal easily 
and in large pieces, and was nailed to the logs while green and fresh the 
smooth side out, and when dry was hard and very smooth; the chimney 
was made of common stones piled together and carried up pretty near to 
a hole in the roof, left for the smoke. Thus began the first settlers of 
North Woods, as it was called by some, and by others the Green and Walker 
tract after the name of the original owners of the land. 

On the tenth of March, 1824, I was married by the Rev. Moses Miller to 
Dr. Joseph Emerson. 

There were at that time I think between eleven and twelve hundred 
inhabitants. Then, and for ten or fifteen years later. Heath was in its 
most prosperovis and flourishing condition — a community of sturdy, in- 
dustrious, friendly and social people who fed and clothed their large fam- 
ilies almost entirely with the fruit of their own labor, seldom needing to go 
out of town for anything needful for their comfort. There was one minister 
Rev.Miller for whose suj)port the whole town was taxed as it was for schools, 
one physician. Dr. Emerson, with Eeuben Nims as pupil and assistant, 
one meeting house standing on the centre of the Common, built in the old 
puritanical fashion with square boxes for pews, seats with lids hung with 
hinges to turn up for the convenience of standing during prayers. The 
pulpit was a sort of small gallery with a short flight of stairs on either side, 
and a sounding board in the form of an umbrella suspended over it. The 
gallery was made Atith the tiers somewhat like modern Opera houses. The 
first tier was for singers and was about on a level with the pulpit. Di- 
rectly in front of the minister's pulpit sat the leader of tha singing, a ven- 
erable looking, white haired old gentleman, who had done duty there 
for many years, Mr. Thomas Harrington. On his right sat the contra sing- 
ers as they were then called, on his left the tenor. The side seats were for 
the treble and bass, and these seats were very well filled with singers, forty 
or fifty in number. While the minister was reading the hymn (he read 
the whole of it) the leader would look up a tune and name it when he was 



121 

through, then with his pitch pipe give the key note (all sounding) then 
Old Hundred, Windham, Portugal or whatever it chanced to be of the 
good old tunes of those days was sung by that choir to some purpose. 
People then didn't excuse themselves from going to meeting for trifles; a 
little rain or cold wouldn't keep them at home. If the snow was too deep 
for horses they would yoke up their oxen and take their families on sleds: 
many a time have I seen ox teams plunging through snow drifts on Sun- 
day mornings to get to the meeting house. The same venerable Mr. Har- 
rington, who was leader of the choir so long was also town clerk for many 
years. One important part of his duty was to publish all intentions of 
marriage, for there was a good deal of it done in those days (and they stayed 
married too.) His way of doing it was to wait on Sunday mornings until all 
the people were assembled and all quiet; then he would rise up in a dig- 
nified manner facing the minister and say very distinctly and loud enough 
to be heard by all in the house "Marriage intention, between Dr. Joseph 
Emerson and Miss Sally Cheney both of Heath." This being done three 
sabbaths in succession, then the marriage would be legal but not other- 
wise. This meeting house Avas used for all town meetings, school 
exhibitions, singing concerts, etc. The first Sunday school was formed I 
think two or three years previous to the above date: I was myself one of a 
class of young ladies with Mrs. Hastings for our teacher. We began by 
committing to memory portions of scripture; I remember I was partic- 
ularly impressed by the accuracy with which Eliza Hunt repeated a por- 
tion of the 119th Psalm. The tii'st book we used was Wilber's catechism. 
Farming, raising cattle, making butter and cheese, spinning and weaving 
were the principal business. Every farmer kept a flock of sheep and 
raised a patch of flax. Every house was furnished with wheels for spinning 
wool and flax and a loom for weaving. There was one carding machine at 
Mill Hollow, where the wool was prepared for spinning. The mother and 
daughters spun most of the clothing. None but home made blankets were 
seen. Those industrious mothers and daughters wore gowns, 2:>etticoats, 
not dresses and skirts, and stockings of their own spinning, weaving knit- 
ting and making up. Table linen and sheeting was made of the fiax. 
Very little factory cotton as it was called then, was used. There was one 
clothier whe dyed and dressed cloth for men and boys, Jacob Snow; and 
one gristmill for grinding the grain. There were two or three blacksmiths 
in different parts of the town, to shoe the horses and oxen, and about as 
many shoemakers. Mr. Eli Gould went about staying long enough in one 
place to make and mend shoes for the whole family. David Marsh who sat 
on his bench most of the time for forty years was the shoemaker of the town ; 
all the nicest work was taken to him. There was one tannery where the 
leather was made by Enos Adams. Colonel David Snow was the prin- 
cipal house builder, and Mr. Oliver Kendrick the mason. The spare prod- 
uce, butter, cheese, pork, poultry, etc., was carried to Boston for many 
years in a large four horse market wagon, by one man Gayton Williams, 
who on his return brought groceries and di-y goods for the store kept by 
John Hastings and Obadiah Dickinson, also medicines for the doctor. It 
required two or three weeks to go, sell his load, buy the goods and return 
to Heath. The postoffice was kept by Sylvenus Maxwell who went to 



122 



Greenfield twice a week for the mail. Tliere were two tailoresses, Mrs. 
Oliver Sawyer and the widow Thayer. The town was divided into nine 
school districts, which were well supplied with children. I remember 
a few people who at that time seemed very aged, who with their wives 
soon passed away. 



The following are their names 
Asa Marsh, 
Peter Hunt, 
Parly Hunt, 
Dea. Isaac Chapin, 
Solomon Temple, 
Dea. John Brown, 



Seth Temple, 
Dea. James White, 
Solomon Temple, 
Benjamin Maxwell, Sr. 
Phiueas Baldwin, Sr. 
Lieut. William Buck, and 



William Christy. 

The next class were the parents of the young people of the town at that 
time, men and women of sterling integrity and ability who trained up 
their children in the way they should go, whose sous and daughters did 
honor to their parental guidance and instruction. Many of them became 
teachei's of schools, some of them ministers and missionaries, doctors and 
lawyers. All of them so far as I know filled places of respectability and 
usefulness in Heath and in different parts of the country. 

The age of the parents of the grown up young people at that time must 
have been in the vicinity of sixty. The following are the names of those 1 
remember : — 



Eev. Moses Millen, 
Dea. Medad Dickinson, 
Col. Roger Leavitt, 
Adjt. David White, 
Lt. Hvigli Maxwell, 
Dea. JacoblChapin, 
Luke White, 
John Buck, 
Eli Gould, 

Capt. Benjamin Maxwell, 
Stephen Thompson, 
Dea. Sullivan Taft, 
Dea. Moses Smith, 
Aaron Smith, 1st. 

Col. David 



Phineas Smith, 
Daniel Rugg, 
Jonathan Taylor, 
Jesse Gale, 
Luther Gale, 
David Henry, 
Samuel Kinsman, 
Caleb Miller, 
Daniel Brown, 
Oliver Sawyer, 
Phineas Baldwin, 
Ephraim Hastings, 
Harison Holland, 
Samuel Martin, 
Snow. 



The next class were the middle aged, substantial, well to do farmers, 
with their large families numbering as high sometimes as twelve and four- 
teen. These were the children that made the good schools at that time 
and for a few years later. They had only three months in summer, and 
not quite so much in winter, and the children felt that they must make 
the most of it. They excelled in spelling especially and mental arithmetic 
and reading. Indeed Heath was considered the model town of the country 
for its Sunday school, its common school and its choir of singers. 



123 

The following are the names of those who reared this fine host of 
children. 

Elijah Allen, Samuel Brown, 

Dea. David Eugg, Benjamin Temple, 

Dea. Joel Eugg, Solomon Temple, 
Dea. Timothy Harrington, Eobert "Wilson, 

Oliver Kendrick, William Christie, 

David Kinsman, Dayid Gould, 

Lieut. David White, Squire Benson. 

Joshua Warfield, Luther Thompson, 

Job Warfield, Joseph Allen, 

Hezekiah Coats, John Temple, 

Eeuben Porter, Asahel Thayer, 

Phillip Spooner, Nathaniel Temple, 

Lemuel Harris, Stephen Gerry, 

Eichard Temple, Amos Brooks, 

Gayton Williams, David Marsh. 

These and others whom I have no doubt forgotten, with their large fam- 
ilies of bright intelligent children, were the strength and pride of Heath 
sixty years ago. 

As I recall the children of those day I remember that one year prizes 
were offered to the best scholars in intellectual arithmetic, and the mem- 
bers of the school committee imposed upon Dr. Emerson, the delicate task 
of making the rewards. Nelson Benson and Sarah Jane Hastings wei'e 
the victors in the contest. 



Letter fkom Eev. Lowell Smith, D. D. 

Honolulu, Oahu, Sandwich Islands., June 27th, 1885. 

To the Centennial Committee of Heath, Gentlemen: — 

Many thanks for your circular, which came to hand on the 22d inst., 
inviting me to meet with you on the 19th of next August, to cooperate in 
celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Incorporation of Heath, my 
native town. 

If circumstances would permit, it would give me great pleasure to meet 
with you on that occasion. 

I am now in my 83d year and quite feeble; — the journey both by sea and 
land, is so far that it would not be wise for me to undertake it, — but I will 
send you my photograph; — and a pamphlet of our Golden Wedding, and a 
newspaper, which contains some interesting reminiscences, from which 
you may get a few paragraphs, which may give a little variety to the 
speeches, poems and other communications, and exercises of the day. 

According to a record of births and deaths in the old family Bible of 
Moses and Lucretia Smith, who lived in the west part of the town; Lowell, 
their first born son, was born on the 27th of Nov., 1802. I lived with my 



124 

parents till I was about 20 years old, laboring with father on a farm in the 
summer, and in his blacksmith's shop in the winter. 

Kev. Moses Miller was pastor of the church and people in Heath at that 
time. In 1822 that church and people were blessed with a precious revival of 
religion, and quite a number were hopefully converted and gathered into 
the Church of Christ, among whom were my father and mother, and my- 
self. Then, for a year or more my convictions were very strong that it was 
my duty to forsake the farm and shop, and prepare myself .to preach the 
gospel to the destitute. 

I spent two years in prepai'atory studies; four years in Wlliams. College 
and three years in Auburn Theological Seminary. 

On the 20th of Sept., 1832, I was ordained in Heath, by the Franklin As- 
sociation, as an [evangelist missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. for the Sand- 
wich Islands. 

I was married to Miss Abigail W. Tenney of Biandon Vermont, on the 
2nd of Oct., 1832. We embarked from New London, Ct., for the Islands, on 
the 23d of Nov. on board the Whale Ship Mentor, Capt. John Rice. After 
a tedious voyage of 159 days, via Cape Horn, we arrived at Honolulu 
on the 1st day of May, 1833. Here we have lived and labored together for 
52 years, the Lord being with and blessing us according to his promise. 

Soon after we left for the Islands, my father sold his farm in Heath, and 
purchased another in the western part of Greenfield, where my brother 
Frederick G. Smith and family now live. 

In 1865, some [twenty years ago, I felt ill, and as though my missionary 
work was drawing to a close. Consulting our family physician, he said I 
had no chronic diseaae; — what I needed was rest, and a change of climate 
for a year, and ten years more would be added to my life. I wrote to the 
Prudential Committee in Boston, whogave me afurlough or leave of absence 
for a yeai". So in April, 1865 we left for New York, via San Francisco and 
Panama. Our surviving relatives and friends in the States received us 
most cordially, and did all in their power during the year to make us 
happy and recuperate for another campaign. 

Marvelous were the changes that had taken place everywhere, during 
the thirty years of our absence. Many of our dearest friends were sleeping 
in their graves. On my visit to Heath, I found very few persons who re- 
membered me. My old homestead was occupied by strangers, and I was a 
stranger to the families in that neighborhood. 

In 1866, with health much improved, w^ returned again to our Island 
home, where the Lord has continued to own and bless our labors until the 
31st day of January 1885. 

" Saturday Press," one of our weekly newspapers, issued on the 7th of 
last February, contains some interesting j-eminiscences of the life, labors, 
sickness, death and burial of my beloved companion — alias — "the late 
Mrs. Lowell Smith." 

Christian Salutations to all the old and new inhabitants of Heath, who 
may assemble there on this interesting anniversary. 

Respectfully yours, 

LOWELL SMITH. 



125 

Letter from Mrs. Sarah J. Hastings Nicuols. 

Gentlemen of the Centennial Committee of Heath: — 

Sirs : — In common with many wliose liappy cliildhood was spent on 
these rugged hills, who grew strong by breasting the fierce winds that 
sweep them, or by ploughing the heavy snows that cover them in the long 
winter ; and in those far-off days, doing all with a sense of exultation, that 
ours was a privileged lot ; I have looked forward to this day with anticipa- 
tions of being present to share in its reunions, its mingled sunshine and 
shadow. Painfully do I feel the restrictions of distance and other circum 
stances which compel me to forego its joys; its shadows reach me even 
here, for I feel the disappointment and gloom which the sudden death of 
Col. Hooker Leavitt has cast over a movement he did so much to inaugu- 
rate and feel sure some able pen will render a fitting tribute to his mem- 
ory. As I cannot be present in body I venture to send a few reminiscen- 
ces of my Heath life. But the Heath that I so fondly remember, is the 
Heath of a past generation, most of whom sleep in quiet graveyards; a 
very few still live on their native hills and a few more yet linger here and 
there in the busy centers of action. To the most of this large audience my 
name even is wholly unfamiliar. Leaving home in the spring of 1837 to 
enter upon that teaching which has been my life work, I have been back 
for brief visits only, and since my honored father left Heath for his ISTashua 
residence in 1848, even those brief visits have only been to that hallowed 
spot the " I^orth burying ground" where rest the precious remains of 
mother and sisters. Perhaps I owe an apology for making these reminis- 
cences so personal; but mine was the life of a home-sheltered happy girl 
rather studious than active, so I can only reproduce personal impressions. 
Quite early in my childhood two conversations heard in my own home fixed 
themselves in my memory. Some relatives from the rich Connecticut valley 
were visiting my parents, and sitting about the family table, my uncle 
said, " Well! what can you raise on these rough hills'?" My father replied, 
" good potatoes, good oats, good cattle," and my mother added with quick 
enthusiasm, "good men and women." Ah! yes, good men and women the 
best of all raising. Should my mother's deep faith in her townspeople be 
justified? Often has the remembrance of her look and tone been an in- 
citement to one at least to struggle for the right. One winter evening in 
1827 I think, as my father sat with his Boston paper, reading aloud wdth 
his fine, clear voice, as was his custom when particularly interested, he 
finished the account of the first passage of a locomotive from Liverpool to 
Birmingham, Eng. He made some enthusiastic remark, when my mother 
laughingly said " you seem to be a mighty railroad man." Dropping his 
paper on his knees and straightening himself back, he said, " If I had the 
means I'd be a mighty railroad man. Why! If I live, I as much expect to 
see a railroad going up the Charlemont valley as I expect to go to Brighton 
next week.." My mother's quiet reply was, "I as much expect to go to 
the moon." Nearly thirty years passed before the project of the Hoosac 
Tunnel began to take form in the Massachusetts Legislature, while my 
father was not spared to see the dream of his manhood completely 
fulfilled, he was permitted to see its inception and to find his fore-casting 



126 

justified. The glory of Heath as I knew it, was in the morality and intelli- 
gence of its people and the excellence of its Sabbath school, and its dis- 
trict schools. Your Pocumtuck had not then been lifted into notoriety, 
as a signal [station, but was known as Catamount hill. The literary fame 
of J. G, Holland had not cast its reflex light on "Holland Dell," or "Holland 
Elra,"i (grand old tree), but Heath was the banner town of Franklin 
county if not of the state for its schools. From 1820 onward, till the fac- 
tory villages of Worcester county and of North Adams, and the rich 
farming lands of the "Genesee country" began to drain its population, 
it numbered nearly 1200 inhabitants, and I never knew a grown person 
among them who could not read and write. In those years its Congrega- 
tional church enrolled between four and five hundred members, and its 
Sabbath School, held only from April to November of each year, including 
many adult Bible classes, numbered about the same. Its nine district 
school-houses, though somewhat rude in structure (they were not as neatly 
painted and fitted with blinds, as was the one I saw in the west district 
when I passed it in the summer of 1879), were comfortable and were al- 
ways summer and winter, manned with thorough, competent, laborious 
teachers, and crowded by all the children from four to eighteen that could 
possibly be spared from farm or home-work. It is and it ever has been a 
marvel to me, how so much and such thorough work could be crowded into 
three and a half months winter school, and only three months summer 
school. I look back with astonishment, as I recall some of the most gifted 
female teachers I have ever known, putting heart, mind and body ear- 
nestly into their work, going early, long before eight o'clock to make pens 
and set copies and often in raw, chilly days to make their own fires, and 
staying late to sAveep and dust, that the children might have the practical 
lessons of neatness and order, and all for the mere pittance of a dollar and 
a quarter, or a dollar and a half a week, and the privilege of " boarding 
round." Such labor was not a "quid pro quo but was a loving sacrifice 
laid upon the altar of society's welfare, and as such I believe God accepted 
it and crowned it with unwonted success. May I be permitted to recall 
some events known to the whole community, and which made a deep im- 
pression on my childish mind: The appearance in our midst on the occa- 
sion of a " court-martial," of military officers from Northampton and 
Springfield with epaulettes, swords and spears, who to my terrorized fancy 
were fiercer than Turk or Tartar. The arrival of five or six Oneida Indi- 
ans, who were domiciled in the hall over the old red store; there they gave 
exhibitions of Indian customs, and in the dark closet opening from that 
hall one of those Indians died. I can recall to this day, the bated breath 
with which I watched his comrades bear his remains to the old " North 
burying ground." The presentation of a stand of colors to the " Heath 
Independent Eifle Company," of which, I think, Hooker Leavitt was Cap- 
tain; Sullivan Taft Lieutenant; and George Hastings, Ensign. My sister 
Margaret was elected to make the presentation. The agitation of our peo- 
ple in regard to the abduction of Morgan, and the Anti-Masonic excite- 
ment, because one of our townspeople, living in the then far west, even 
Lockport, N. Y. had been suspected of complicity in that abduction, but 



127 

of which he was afterward acquitted. The profound feeling awakened by 
the departure in 1832 of the Rev. Lowell Smith and wife for their Sand- 
wich Island home, where they fulfilled such a long and noble career. Did I 
not fear to weary your patience, I should love to speak at length of our 
revered pastor, the Rev. Moses Miller, stately and dignified in form, wise 
and godly in life, to whom the Heath of my day owed more than to any 
other individual: of the careful, cautious Dr. Joseph Emerson, the beloved 
physician; of Deacon Samuel Hastings so long the superintendent of our 
Sabbath School. I can see and hear him now, as he stands ia the Dea- 
con's seat of the old church, to give out the closing hymn : — 

" How shall the young secure their way, 
And guard their lives from sin?" or 

" Life is the time to serve the Lord, 
The time to insure the great reward." 

Of my early teachers, the prompt and energectic Lucretia White, the 
sweet, 'attractive Eleanor Dickinson, the careful painstaking Annie 
Thayer; that nervous man of keen intellect, the Rev. James Ballard, or 
that Mr. French who dropped upon us from Vermont, to teach a "select 
school," with his new fangled notions, his queer devices and his no great 
amount of acquired knowledge, but whose work, judged by its results, 
must be called great, for he could rouse and hold pupils to vigorous and 
prolonged stduy; what better can a teacher do? But 1 content myself with 
a loving tribute to my honored parents. The legacy of their name and 
their virtues I count the richest heritage. Widely diif erent in their nat- 
ural characteristics, they were harmoniously blended in their influence to 
make a happy home. My mother, loving yet firm and strict in her require- 
ments of large practical judgment and executive ability, yet of refined 
taste and tender sympathy, ever ready at the call of the sick or suffering 
neighbors; by her large reading of the English classics and standard poetry 
fitted to be our intellectual guide and censor: and by divine grace formed 
to deep and trusting piety, a very queen in any household. My father, a 
man imbued with a deep reverence for truth and integrity, an utter con- 
tempt for all shams, an indignation for all cruelty and wrong, of broad 
views on all questions of public weal, of the largest charity for all who dif- 
fered from him, generous in his friendships, of such genial good-humor as 
to seize upon allthe pleasant things and let annoyances slide past him with 
as little chafing as possible, a public minded citizen, an honest man a de- 
vout worshipper of his God. All honor to their memory, and all honor to 
my native hills where I was permitted to know and love them. 

I long to hear others tell of the part Heath has borne in the great struggle 
for our nation's life, of your material develoment and prosperity since that 
fearful baptism of blood, of your sturdy independence in standing as a town 
free from debt, of your overflowing treasury, the surplus of which I ear- 
nestly hope may be devoted to a good town library, of all that can reflect 
honor on our native town, and in all past, present or future that can 
glorify the "child of a hundred years," one loyal heart rejoices." 

Rochester, N. Y. Sarah J. Hastings Nichols. 



128 

Letter from Kusbell J. Taylor, Esq. 

Aug. 11, 1885. 
Clias. B. Cutler, Sec. and Committee, ) 
of Heath Centennial. ( 

GeniJemew; — Your circular of April 6, 1883, was received with pleasure, 
but circumstances forbid my beinj^ present. I recall with pleasure the 
time when I lived about one half a mile east of the middle of the town, just 
over the Nim's hill and attended school in the district near where Luther 
Thompson lived. John Thompson was at the same school at the time. 
It was taught by Lucy and Jane Hastings, daughters of Ephraim Hastings. 
My grandfather and great grandfather lie in the cemetery in your town, 
which I visited about five years ago. I also recognize the name of Chas. 
D. Benson, with whom I used to stay over night, if I recollect right on 
"Burnt Hill." near where "' Capt." Gould lived. He was my special boy 
friend. Those I immediately remember are John Thompson, Chas. Ben- 
son, Henry Gould, Corydon Flagg (Simons) and Bernice Gould. My hap- 
piest days were spent on the old homestead between the Flagg pond and 
Nim's hill. I am also proud to record the fact that my grandfather was 
the first settler in the town of Heath. At that time he was one of the 
selectmen of Charlemont. I would not omit the Temples, Whites and 
others who were my relatives. I can but call to mind " Priest Miller," 
who preached in the middle of the town and I remember distinctly how 
erect was his form as he entered the sacred desk. My great-grandfather's 
name was Jonathan, my grandfather's name was Jonathan, my father's 
name was Jonathan and I have a brother Jonathan, whether there will be 
any more Jonathans I cannot tell. Tlie Taylor family are scattered over 
the whole country, Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri. I sat down 
five years ago, by the old well, aud tears flowed down my cheeks as I re- 
called the scenes of my boyhood, as I saw but two or three whom I knew 
in the whole town. But my heart ever turns to my native town, with all 
the fondness which could possibly be expressed, and while I write I feel a 
glow of satisfaction, that the hill town of Heath was the land of my birth. 

Noble New England! How many thousands have gone forth from you 
to bless mankind! 

I have a manuscript book in my possession, which dates back to F eb. 9 
1710; containing the names of the old aud first settlers in Deerfield. 
Among the names are the Stebbins, Hawks, Wells, Taylors, etc. Hon. 
Geo. Sheldon of Deerneld has had the book and copied from it, items for 
thePocumtuck Valley Memorial Association at that place. 

My wish is tliat the town of Heath may prosper and that the people of 
the town may cherish with fidelity aud loyalty the principles they have 
received from their venerated ancestors. 

Yours truly, 

KicnviLLE, N. Y. EussELL J. Taylor. 



129 

Letter from Miss Nancy Browx. 

Santa Ana, California, Aug., 1885. 
To the dear friends of Old Heath :— 

By invitation I have been induced to contribute a few words for this very 
interesting occasion. I am at present a resident of southern California, a 
land famed for its lovely climate, its genial, balmy air, and sunny skies, 
that land of beauty, sunshine, fruits and flowers, and yet my mind often 
reverts to those hills, my childhood's home ; subject to northwest winds 
and drifting snows , but where splendid men and women were made. 
Where were to be found better schools than we had in Heath and vicinity 
fifty years ago ? 

God was good and furnished us some superior lights in the moral heavens, 
aiding and guiding us in the pathway of learning. Good parson Miller,— 
God bless his reverend head, — and Col. E. Leavitt, with other lesser lights, 
who visiting the schools, lifted up the standard of education, and elevated 
the people to a nobler and higher plane of thought and being. I have vis- 
ited schools in Illinois and here in California. They have fine schools and 
enjoy many modern improvements which are great helps, but I am not 
sure that the youth here of sixteen and eighteen j^ears of age graduate 
much in advance of those in Heath fifty years ago. 

Our schools were short but they told. In all my travels and acquain- 
tance I am yet to learn of a single person of my age not educated in Heath 
or in good old Massachusetts, " the garden of the world, the glory of all 
lands," who can boast of such common school privileges as I can. These 
facts speak volumes for the high position of our schools at that time. Our 
moral and religious privileges were also good. Again, where could be 
found, in a town of that size, a church embracing one-third of its popula- 
tion on so high a moral and spiritual elevation ; a Sabbath School with five 
hundred members ? 

Under God and with his blessing upon his labors, great credit is due to 
good old Father Miller, Pastor of that church for thirty-six years, for his 
untiring efforts ; his earnest, persistent, energetic labors to educate and 
instruct the people ; most carefully studying their needs and necessities, 
and preparing his mental, moral and religious forces to meet their wants. 
A colony from Heath went to* northern New York. A resident of that 
place said they always knew when a member of that colony was coming, 
"for he carried a Bible under each arm." 

A distinguished religious man of North Adams, said of several who re- 
moved there from Heath, that they were renowned for their intelligence and 
extensive Bible knowledge. Prof. Tatlock of Williams College, said he 
never went before an audience to preach where he expected to be so 
sharply criticised as at Heath, for the people were so intelligent and so 
thoroughly instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He said it did not do for 
him to make any mistakes there, if he did he should be called to account 
before he got out of the church. The influence which went out from that 
church was very great. There were so many revivals of pure religion add- 
ing many who became pillars in the church of God. God indeed built for 



130 

us a goodly heritage. Let us praise him. Good Father Miller was a means 
in God's hands of doing much good to the people of Heath. He "was not a 
sensational, spasmodic preacher, but sought to enlarge the understanding, 
enlighten the conscience, and educate the judgment. In person he was 
tall, stately and majestic, with a calm, serene and placid countenance. To 
many of us his very presence seemed like a benediction. His wife was a 
model of excellence, purity and refinement ; a pattern of propriety every- 
where. Their children grew up as ornaments in the church of God, and 
went out into the world as blessings to mankind, — but they are all gone 
home. I had five brothers all in the church, all strong temperance men. 
All anti-tobacco men. Not one was ever heard to utter a profane oath. 
It Avas no innate goodness in those boys which protected them from those 
evils. It was their surroundings. The moral and religious atmosphere in 
which they were raised. I think many other young men could testify to 
the same saving influences. 

The days of which I speak were the palmy days of old Heath. I cannot 
speak of your present condition, prosperity or successes, for I am not ac- 
quainted with them, but I desire a glad future for Old Heath. May your 
sun not set in darkness, but may peace and prosperity abound, and the rays 
of the Sun of Righteousness yet shine in undiminished lustre all over your 

land. 

Most truly your friend and well wisher, 

Nancy S. Bkowx. 



Lettek fkom Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Ayer. 

A missionary among the American Indians, and later among the freed- 
men. This was a private letter, and some portions of it are omitted. 

Henry Temple, Esq. 

My dear Nephew:— 

Your more than welcome letter written in March was duly received. . . . 
I love you all, I love Heath. I love her rills, her rocks, her brooks and 
trees. I love her church, her Sabbath School where the old and the young 
meet together, to give and receive instruction. I look upon things mostly 
as when I left, I have a number of little way marks, around my childhood 
home that I still love and still consider mine. More than seventy years 
ago, when helping drive the cows to Burnt Hill pasture, and (luestioiiing 
by the way whether stones grew, I laid one of three or four pounds weight 
in a select corner of the fence. After long waiting and several examina- 
tions I concluded there was no change. Another stone, one of great size; 
and in which I still have an interest lies in the pasture we used to go 
through when we went to your father's. In berry -time we little girls used 
to play "bake pies." That little oven in one side of the rocks is as good 
as ever, I suppose, and may last many generations. The little folks may 
all use it, but I shall remain a shareholder. Yes, Heath is my loved home 
and I should like ever so much to be with you in celebrating her one 



131 

hundredth anniversary. I suppose this means from the time of her organi- 
zation. I was told that my grandfather was the first settler in what is now 
called Heath. It was then a part of Charlemont. I have heard my father 
tell much about Gen. Heath after whom the place was named. I would 
write something of the manners and customs of old as you suggest did I 
know wherein you have as a people changed or improved. I might strike 
the wrong string. Allow me however to ask a few questions. Are citizens 
now among you obliged to own a certain amount of property in order to 
be voters, and are they liable to be fined for not attending church at least 
once in a specified time? Do you rememder when farmers wives and 
daughters in good standing wore linen dressesof their own make to church, 
and also carried pocket handkerchiefs which came from the same source, 
and cai-ried their best stockings and shoes in their pockets till they were in 
sight of the meeting house? Then grateful parents rendered public thanks 
when a baby was born. Do you know that it was once thought very ill 
manners to carry food to the mouth with a fork, a knife or spoon must be 
used instead, and still further when whole families ate from tbe same dish 
at table and drank beer and cider from the same mug. A teacher in Heath 
from one of the neighboring towns once cut a pupil's mouth while teaching 
her to eat fashionably, and showing her which way to put the edge of the 
knife. Those who have lived long enough to learn both ways may prac- 
tice as is most convenient. Other fashions came round once in a while 
with but little alteration. Now people wear what they onee laughed at and 
set aside. Has Heath still a "nigger pew" in her meeting house for the 
benefit of dark skins. I remember hearing a sharp discussion once on the 
impropriety of Mr. Goff sitting in Mr. Miller's pew while partaking of the 
Lord's supper; one party thought he might sit in the aisle. Afterwards he 
was sent as missionary to his far-oif dark brethren. His children felt their 
degredation. Sally said she was willing to be skinned all over if it would 
make her white, like the other school girls. We had but one pastor* during 
my home life; him I loved and revered. He did much, very much, for the 
young people of his charge. Also but one physiciant who is also well re- 
membered. But they and most of my elders have passed away. In all my 
wanderings they have not been forgotten, and the evidence from time to 
time that they did not forget me was very cheering. I shall know more of 
them in the near future. . . . My husband was a godly man, an earnest, 
energetic and efficient worker, was respected everywhere even among 
rebel Southerners with wliom he had much to do. He kept many from 
starvation from his own private purse. At his death there was great 
mourning. One aged rebel who had lost a fortune by the war, came to see 
the corpse, embraced it and with sobs and tears told how the departed had 
saved his life; said he, " I should have have gone first if he had not helped 
me." His funeral was attended by all classes of people to the number, I 
was told, of three thousand. . . . What do you think led me at first to be- 
come a missionary? It was not any great amount of piety or self-denial 
that I possessed above others. It was to pay an honest debt. I had se- 



* Rev. Moses Miller. 
t Dr. Joseph Emerson. 



132 

cretly resolved, sometime before I thought of going to Sanderson Academy 
that all I got over the common price for teaching, should go into the treas- 
ury of the Lord for the support of missionaries. But from time to time in 
making out my wardrobe I borrowed a share of it but I kept a strict ac- 
count. Col. Leavitt, who visited my school very often, proposed that I put 
myself under Miss Lyon's iustruction, if only for a short time. I took ad- 
vantage of his suggestion, and went the next winter, entered for six 
weeks. That took a good' share of all I called my own. Miss Lyon asked 
me why I did not stay longer, said that if it was for the want of money she 
would supply me. I said nothing but thought I might as well borrow 
money of the Lord as of Miss Lyons, so I took all the money in my posses- 
sion and finished the term. The next summer I received for teaching more 
than ever before and this enabled me to go to school the next term which 
was a long one and pay all my debts excepting that borrowed money. So 
as soon as I was asked to go and teach the Mackinaw mission, a decided 
answer came at once. Yes, go, there is the way to pay what you owe the 
Lord. But I did not say this aloud. I told them|that they should have my 
answer in three days. I had taken an interest in missions ever since Har- 
riet Atwood Xewell went to India, but it had never entered my mind that 
I could be a missionary myself. I could go for two years and no longer. 
Secretary Anderson wrote to me that the American Boai-d had never sent 
out missionaries in that way for a specified time, but that they had de- 
cided to send me, hoping I should conclude to remain longer. I answered 
that they must not expect that. But barriers were removed and I re- 
mained at Mackinaw over five years. Since then my transient homes reach 
from Maintoba to Georgia. Miss Lyons did not advise me not to go to 
Mackinaw, but said if I did not go I might have a place in her school as 
teacher, adding, "I would have you for my first teacher but you and I are 
too much alike." When she said that I felt that it my duty to go, she 
gave nie ten dollars worth of Colburn's Arithmetics, and bade me God 
speed. At Mackinaw I had a pleasant time, things moved on like clock 
work, every one had his appointed duty, and knew when it was done, but 
in the far interior I fully met my early idea of the trials of missionary life. 
From the difficulty of transportation up and down rapid rivers we could 
take but little with us. Our table furniture consisted of a few tin plates 
and cups and some knifes and forks. Our food was mostly the products of 
the country, fish, rice, deer and small game ^nd plenty of cranberries. In 
spring we could supply ourselves with maple sugar for the year, but per- 
haps the children had washed in the sap half a dozen times before it was 
boiled. After tlie Indians knew we were particular, they made their sugar 
cleaner and brought the best to us. We raised our own potatoes and a lit- 
tle corn. The first flour we bought at Fort Snelling was eighteen dollars 
a barrel. We had a small piece of bread once a day. Mr. Ayer would often 
give his piece to a sick Indian, I was not so benevolent. Under all snch 
little trials we could laugh and go on our way, but after getting a settle- 
ment around us in houses, a church organized, and a school in good run- 
ning order, to see them scattered to the four winds by tlie Sioux, was a 
great trial to us and a still greater to them. We remained at Pokagoma a 
year hoping they might dare to return, and then sought another field of 



133 

labor. Now thousands are carried over the same or nearly the same 
ground taking all they wish along with them, and instead of camping out 
at night, go intolPullman cars and sleep at their leisure. It is simply won- 
derful how the great North West is filling up with settlers. Night and 
day, car loads pass our door to find the wheat fields whose furrows are sev- 
enteen miles long, or on beyond, north towards British America, or west 
toward the great Pacific. Well, " the world moves," I have almost done 
with it but that thought does not make me sad. I am not tired of it, but 
I have a better inheritance and so have you; and neither men nor devils 
can cheat you out of it without your consent. I look to the future with 
pleasant anticipations. The character of God appears more and more 
lovely, as I better understand our relation to Him. One living and true 
God, not three persons, but a Trinity in one. Our Maker, our Redeemer 
and Sanctifer. One God who does all the work. I used to say three per- 
sons, but the Bible does not say so, and I see it is not right to say so. It 
obscures the mind for even if we say one, we think three. I say this blurs 
the mind, it has mine, it did when I was young and it was only little by 
little that I am now able to think one as well to say one. The idea of 
three leads to other errors; " God manifest in the flesh." He came into the 
world not to pay for our past transgressions but in this way he could better 
communicate with man and draw him from sin to holiness. Should our 
past sins all be cancelled, what would it avail if love to God and love to 
man be absent, we are not fit for heaven; but if we have this love to its 
full extent or as we may have it, we have heaven. God is love and who- 
soever dwellest in love dwelleth in God and God in him. If we fail in this 
love there is nothing to take its place. All the long faces, long prayers; 
the sacraments; all the confessions and penances cannot save us. Am I 
right? Mrs. Elizabeth Ayee. 



Recollections of the old Red House Seventy Years Ago. 

BY KEV. JOHN C. THOMPSON, OF HOLYOKE, MASS. 

The two lower rooms of its large two-story front, were used, one, as a 
sales-room of all kinds of goods and wares, dry goods, groceries, and what- 
ever would meet the wants of the people of this far away hill-town. The 
other, the east portion of the lower front, was the bar-room of the hotel. 
The upper story of the front was one long spacious hall, where the maidens 
and their mates were accustomed occasionally to trip the "light fantas- 
tic toe." In subsequent years the room was furnished with desks and sit- 
tings and became a most valuable educational agency in the town. Here, 
doubtless, many a Wm. Howland and Susan Reed began to catch that 
mental and moral and perhaps that spiritual inspiration which ultimately 
carried them forward, and made them earnest workers in the great field of 
God, both in this and in other lands, Here in this hall— after it became a 
school-room, were enjoyed some most precious revival seasons. I doubt 



134 

not, many a joyous soul now in heaven looks back to that room as the place 
where he first gave his heart to God, and experienced the new joys of sal- 
vation. My recollections of the bar-room are not so pleasant. Let the 
description of a single scene suffice. 

It was on Election day— the first of March. The meeting for the trans- 
action of the annual business of the town— on that day, was held in the old 
church building on the "Common." There seemed to be a general gathering 
of the male population of the town, old men, middle aged, young men and 
not a few boys, some quite young. The meeting on that day was divided 
into two assemblies, one, at the church for business, the other at the bar- 
room for pleasure, and there was a constant passing and repassing, from 
one assembly to the other. At the church was the common routine of busi- 
ness, usual at an annual town-meeting. At the bar-room the assembly was 
made up largely of the younger portion of the people. The room was 
somewhat spacious ; in the southeasterly part of it was the bar, occupied 
on the day of which I speak by several clerks, engaged in mixing and de- 
livering to the thii'sty crowd, intoxicating liquors. In the northeasterly 
corner of the room was a large open fire-place radiant with burning wood 
and coals. In the bed of burning coals were lying several round heavy 
pieces of iron logger-heads, I think they were called, with long, slim iron 
handles attached to them. As well as I can remember, the favorite bever- 
age of the assembly on that day was what is called " flip." It consisted of 
a large proportion of common home-made beer, well sweetened, and a gen- 
erous amount of rum. When thus duly mixed, the mug or the half mug 
was taken to the fire-place by a bar-tender, and one of these red logger- 
heads was plunged into the liquor, setting it into a lively effervescence or 
foam. It was then in readiness to gratify the yearning palate and throat 
of the willing purchaser. The apartment was crowded on that day. 
Those who wished to gain entrance could hardly find standing room, much 
less sittings ; and so great was the demand for "flip," that, I well remem- 
ber — it was very difficult to keep a passage open from the bar to the fire- 
place for the clerk to put ths heated finishing touch upon the favorite bev- 
erage. Being nothing but a green boy, I then learned for the first time 
that there was a game in flip-drinking. My inexperienced, curious eyes 
were, of course, open, to observe whatever was going on. I saw on every 
hand mugs or half-mugs of flip, being imbibed by two or three in social 
chat together. I soon discovered that a ring of young men was being 
formed near the centre of the crowded room, for purpose of social chat and 
flip-drinking. This ring was being continually enlarged. The method of 
enlargement was this : A young friend from without, was invited, or con- 
strained to join them ; and was given to understand the initiatory fee to 
their circle was a half mug of flip. A mere boy as I was, it was not long 
before I felt an impressive hand upon my shoulder accompanied by an 
earnest invitation to come into the ring. My boyish pride, at being ad- 
mitted into the circle of those so much older than myself, constrained me 
to order the initiating fee— the half mug of flip. Thanks to a kind Provi- 
dence and the restraining grace of God— it was the first find the last pur- 
chase of that kind I ever made. 

It must not be inferred from this account of that bar-room exhibition on 



135 

that election day, that the inhabitants of Heath were at that time a set of 
drunkards. Far from it. I did not know then, nor have I known since of 
more than one man who could be called a confirmed inebriate, and he 
subsequently reformed, died, as Ave believe, a renewed Christian man. 
Everybody in those days, pastor and people, drank intoxicating liquors, 
but for the most part they kept decently sober. One thing in their favor 
was, the liquors then were not drugged as they are now. But even with 
pure liquors, this drinking habit of that by-gone generation, subjected, 
them to a most fiery ordeal. Had they not possessed more manly stamina, 
than vast multitudes of the present generation, they would have thronged 
the way to the drunkard's grave ; as it was with all their commendable 
resistance to excessive drinking, still it is to be deplored, that the sad 
results which necessarily follow the habitual use of intoxicating liquors, 
should be transmitted by heredity, to the generations that follow them. 



Letter from Eev. W. A. Nichols. 

Lake Forest, August 5, 1885. 

Mr. Cutler, Sec. of the Centennial ) 
Committee, Heath, Mass. j 

Dear Sir : — Your letter kindly inviting me to be present at your approach- 
ing centennial was duly received. It would give me true pleasure to 
comply with your invitation ; but, as circumstances prevent, I send you 
these few words, as my representative. Memory fondly lingers over the 
Heath of long ago. There I fitted for college in part, at an excellent select 
school taught by Mansfield French, and in part with the venerable man 
who was the "mountain shepherd" of a Christian fold in that town for 
thirty-six years, and whose youngest daughter was the mother of my 
children. My brief residence there was in the palmiest days of her centen- 
nial history. On the Sabbath, the meeting-house which stood on the Com- 
mon, was often crowded to its utmost capacity. In those years, the Sab- 
bath School numbered nearly six hundred, with one exception, the largest 
in the State. 

Miss Enth White was the teacher of the youngest class of girls for many 
years, and all the daughters of the parish passed under her training. If 
all these did not become sound in sentiment, and practical in activity, it 
was their own fault. I believe the good people of that generation canon- 
ized the said Miss Ruth as the parish saint. 

I was teaching in Thayer's Hall in the autumn of 1833 and attended the 
last meeting which was held in the old church. It was on the after- 
noon of a cold, windy day. Every fresh blast from the northwest shook the 
old structure, and set it creaking from sill to rafters. The pastor seemed 
to catch the spirit of the elements, and kindled to unwonted eloquence on 
the occasion. His theme as I recollect it was that every thing temporal 
must have its brief history and pass down to decay. The old meeting- 
house then and there accommodating the worshippers for the last time, was 
an illustration of the fact ; but the human soul would survive all the 



136 

shocks of time, and take on immortality to a life to come, blessed or other- 
wise according to the improvement or misuse of the probationary period. 
Thouf,'h not acquainted with the career of the latter house of worshippers, 
my impression is that in breadth of utility and renown, it has hardly 
attained to the glory of the former house ; and yet other causes than the 
character of the people may account for the diiference. Every line of rail- 
road has its alternations of ascending and descending grade. Heath in its 
vigor and thrift has furnished much seed-corn for more productive soils in 
broader domains. The intelligence, the industry and frugality promoted 
by a hard soil and a rigorous climate applied under more genial circumstan- 
ces, have resulted in the same fibre of Yankees lengthened out. Many of 
these have made a stronger mark, a more enduring impression in other 
positions than they would have left on their native town, not because they 
were better men than those who remained at home, but because they have 
enjoyed better opportunities. The facts and figures resulting from these 
mountain school-houses and churches appear not so much in what they 
have kept at home, as in what they have trained at home to send abroad 
to achieve under a more ample scope for development. Our star of Em- 
pire has been coursing westward for hundreds of years ; but it must never 
be forgotton that it rose in the East, and carried in its course, the forma- 
tive elements for a grand and substantial West. So the West could never 
have become even what it now is, without the East to give it direction and 
secure for it the elements of character. The right kind of work at the 
cradle and in the nursery must precede a correct and efficient manhood. 
The West will continue to receive and utilize the influx of contributions 
from the East, until there shall be formed an equilibrium between these 
two sections of the Republic ; and then there may be a reflux from the 
West towards the East. Then your sterile hill-tops, now being reclothed 
with forests, during a period of rest and recuperation will be refreshed 
with new productive energies, aud invite a new immigration. Even noAv 
the emigrant from the old world, is beginning to find stronger inducement 
to settle down on your forsaken acres, than to push for the frontier. The 
emigi-ant does not find virgin soil amid your rugged hills, but he finds other 
facilities for securing the comforts of life, ready for his use, and at less ex- 
penses than it would cost tc pi'oduce them farther west. If the world 
stands long enough, I have little doubt that New England will be more 
densely peopled than it ever has been, and will then need the best of men 
everywhere as leaders of enterprise, and to give healthful tone to public 
sentiment. 

W. A. Nichols. 



Lettek fkom De. a. W. Thompson. 

CiRCLEVILLE, OhIO, Aug. 17, 1885. 

O. Maxwell, and others of the Heath Centennial Committee." 

Be thanked for your kindness in extending an invitation to one of the 
many native born Heathen (as the Colcrain boys used to call us), to return 



137 

to the Highlands of Heath to help commemorate the one hundreth anni- 
of its settlement. 

To bring together the native born subjects who spent their childhood and 
youth there, now scattered promiscuously over the different States, and 
some even in foreign lauds; will no doubt be very pleasant indeed for 
some and exceedingly so to a few, as well as to those among you, who were 
to the "Manor born." and most strikingly illustrates a great truism, 
viz: The Inheritance of the average New Englander. 

Do you ask what inheritance? The youth of your country and invigo- 
rating climate who from the force of habit or from necessity (and every 
want seemingly a necessity), were reared to labor, think and act for them- 
selves, developed for future usefulness every faculty they had an elemen- 
tary endowment of, to such a perfection, as to make his usefulness felt and 
acknowledged wherever he put forth! his energies. At the present time 
their industry,enterprise and success are manifest all over God'slgreat gran- 
aries and grain producing regions of the world, as well as in the work 
shops of all our mechanical industries. From your own Heath to my cer- 
tain knowledge the professions have been fairly well represented. In a few 
circumstances markedly so. 

But the great, the desirable inheritance is his pei'sistent untiring endur- 
ance, physically, mentally and religiously; well preserved not only to the 
three score years and ten, but to the four score years, still able to battle 
for the right. 

I regret that I am unable to be with you on this occasion, and renew my 
acquaintance with the youth of fifty and six years ago and have a jolly re- 
union though we would all be the boys in gray; of our school fellows and 
school teachers. When Eoger Leavitt, Miss Mary Temple and Whiting 
Griswold (the former at the old red school house in NorthlHeath, the latter 
at your village) as well as a lot of other teachers made us know and feel 
that knowledge was a necessity to reach usefulness, Leavitt was the first 
to impress my mind with the above; my regards to him. 

I cannot add! much to the reminiscences of your town, but would much 
enjoy the reunion, though absent for about half a century. One fact I will 
state purely selfish, my physical inheritance has been such that I have not 
been disabled from the duties of my profession, an entire day, at any one 
time for forty-six years. My brother, Doctor J. C. Thompson of this county 
is better preserved than I am. He is about seventy-five years old. 

Kindly and Respectfully, 

A. W. Thompson. 



Letter fkom Mes. A. G. Willis. 

Brooklyn, Aug. I6th, 1885. 
From the solemn and imposing scenes, attending the funeral obsequies 
' of the late lamented Gen. Grant, I turn to contemplate another event, tho' 
of less world wide interest, yet of great interest to those immediately con- 
cerned. 
To the people of Heath ,who, this day celebrate the Centennial Anniver- 



138 

sary of their incorporation as a town, I wish to send my congratulations 
and regrets that I can not be with you in person, to commemorate an 
event so deeply interesting to all those who were so fortunate as to claim 
their birthplace there. 

Seventy one years ago, I first saw the light of day in one of her happy 
homes,— breathed her pure mountain air, and as I grew in stature and 
years, imbibed the spirit of freedom and independence whicli characterized 
her people to her schools, and the high-toned moral training and deeply 
religious principles inculcated in her community, I owe more than I can 
express. 

Very few of those who were my associates remain to witness this occa- 
sion, and those who do would doubtless feel as I would if there; "Like one 
who treads alone- 
Some banquet hall deserted. 
Whose lights are fled. 
Whose joys are dead, 
By all but me deserted." 

But though that generation has passed away, the same grandeur in 
nature remains to inspire sentiments of love and admiration for all that is 
noble in morals, or grand and beautiful in art or nature. I could recall 
much that would be interesting to remember; but I would not occupy too 
much of your time. You all doubtless remember my honored mother, Mrs. 
Spooner, who was a resident of your town at least three-quarters of the 
century, and here repose the ashes of nearly all my early kindred. I 
would like to speak of one (who has passed away within the last two j'ears) 
who loved this home of his birth and boyhood, with a love almost of idol- 
atry. I refer to P. S. Harris, with whom many of you were acquainted, 
gifted and honored in the city which was his home, a large contributer 
to the flue works of art in which he excelled. He died deeply lamented by 
all who knew him. He was truly an honor to the place he loved so well. 
His brother Lucius too, passed away a short time after. He too was a 
good and honorable man, loving deeply the home of iiis youth, and the place 
of his birth. 

Dr. J. G. Holland,— celebrated as a poet and lecturer— was a resident 
here for many years of his boyhood. I have just heard also of the death of 
another honored resident of the place, Mrs. Wm. Hunt. I must not omit 
to mention the honored and revered pastor of a former generation; the 
Eev. Moses Miller, to whom we, who were contemporary with him, owe a 
debt of gratitude. He was my early guide and teacher, and by him I was 
married in the year 1836 to Daniel Willis of Colraiu, since which time 1 
have lived mostly in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, ever cherishing 
;i deep and abiding love for my native town. 

Yours, with great respect, 

A. G. Willis. 



139 



Names of Lawyers from Heath. 

Judge Jonathan Leavitt. Hon. Hooker Leavitt 

Hon. Sylvester Maxwell. Joshua Leavitt (also a Clergyman). 

Henry Temple. Judge Jackson Temple. 

John M. Emerson. John H. Thompson. 

Rufus Temple. Joseph S. Ward. 

Henry Leavitt. Henry B. Kinsman. 



Names of Clergymen from Heath. 



Reu. Joshua Leavitt, D. D. 

(also lawyer.) 
Rev. John C. Thompson. 

" Stephen T, Allen. 

" Luther Temple. 

" George Benton. 

" WilUam C. Barber. 

" Cornelius E. Dickinson. 



Rev. Lowell Smith, D. D. 
(Missionary 

to the Sandwich Islands.) 
Rev. David H. Thayer. 
" Henry B. Thayer, D. D. 
" Grovernor Swan. 
" Ezra E. Lamb. 
" Samuel F. Dickinson. 



Rev. George L. Dickinson. 



Roswell Leavitt. 
Woodbridge Strong. 
Jonas Brown. 
Ebenezer Tucker. 
Samuel Taylor. 
Willard White. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Cyrus K. Fisk. 
Loren Allen. 
J. G. Holland. 
J. C. Thompson. 
A. W. Thompson. 
Theron Temple, 
Frederic Temple. 
Hiram B. White. 
Francis J. Canedy. 



Names of Physicians from Heath. 

Thomas Leavitt. 
Maltby Strong. 
Harrington Brown. 
Thomas Taylor. 
Reuben Nims. 
Henry Maxwell. 
Joseph E. Fisk. 
David Allen. 
Horace Smith. 
Roswell Trask. 
Jonathan Temple. 
Cyrus Temple. 
Hiram Temple. 
David N". Kinsman. 
Ora Lamb. 
Edwin Blakeslee. 



George H. Gale. 



Natives of Heath who have graduated from College. 

Judge Jonathan Leavitt, Yale, 1785 

Hon. Sylvester Maxwell, " 1797 

Aseph White, Williams, 1812 

Rev. Joshua Leavitt, D. D., Yale, 1814 

Woodbridge Strong, M. D., " 1815 



140 

Jonas Brown, M. D., Williams, 1815 

Maltby Strong, M. D., Yale, 1819 

Eev. Lowell Smith, D. D., Williams, 1829 

" John C. Thompson, Amherst, 1829 

" Stephen T. Allen, " 1833 

Tutor Thomas Spencer Miller, Amherst, 1839 

Prof. Samuel Fisher Miller, " 1849 

John M. Emerson, Esq., " 1849 

Thomas B. Harrington, Princeton, 1849 

Rev. David H. Thayer, Union, 1849 

John H. Thompson, Esq., Amherst, 1850 

Judge Jackson Temple, Williams, 1851 

Prof. Brainard T. Harrington, Amherst, 1852 

Rev.Ezra E. Lamb, Delaware, O., 18.58 

Henry Leavitt, Esq., Williams, 1860 

Piev. C. E. Dickinson, Amherst, 1860 

Joseph T. Ward, Esq., " 1880 

Prof. Frederic Hall, Iowa State University. 1884 

Also the following Residents of Heath but not Natives : 

Prof. Theodore Strong, L. L. D., Tale, 1812 

O. S. Fowler, Amherst, 1834 
Rev. Wm. W. Howland (Missionary to Ceylon) 

Amherst, 1841 

Rev. Samuel Hall, Marietta, 1838 

The following Natives of Heath have taken a partial College course: 

James White, Williams, 1S08-9 

Charles Maxwell, Amherst, 1829-30 

Thomas Taylor, M. D., Amherst, 1830-2 

Rev. Luther Temple, Marietta, 1835-6 

" Henry B. Thayer, Union, 

John M. White, Esq., Amherst, 1856-8 

Rufus Temple, Esq., Williams, 1848-9 

Also the following Residents but not Natives : 

Rev. Lemuel Leonard, Amherst, 1831, Graduated at Theological Insti- 
tute of Conn. 

Rev. Samuel F. Dickinson, Ann Arbor, 1854-6. 



The Following Ladies from Heath have Married Lawyers. 

Miss Margaret S. Hastings married R. E. Dewey, Esq. 
" Hannah H. Temple " Geo. D. Burgess. Esq. 

" Felicia H. Emerson " Judge John Welch. 



141 



The Following Ladies from Heath have 

Miss Clarissa Leavitt married Rev, 

" Elizabeth Thompson " " 
" Bethiah A. Miller 

" Hannah B. Miller " " 
" Elizabeth Taylor 

" Susan Reed " " 

" Martha Sawyer " " 

" Sarah Jane Hastings " " 

" Anna Gerry " " 

" Cordelia Dickinson " " 

" Fidelia Temple " " 

" LucretiaLamb " " 

" Harriett White " " 

Mrs. Phebe Wilson Harris " " 

Miss Jennie Tucker " " 

" Carrie Gleason " " 



Married Clergymen. 

Joseph K. Ware. 
Giles Leach. 
W. A. Nichols. 
Lemuel Leonard. 
Frederick Ayer, 

(Missionary.) 
Wm. W. Howland, 

(Missionary.) 
Thomas S. Burnell, 

(Missionary.) 
James Nichols. 
Anthony Case. 
Seth Hardy. 
Mr. Smith. 
Simeon Miller. 
J. S. Harridon. 
B. B. Cutler. 
I. W. Peach. 
J. W. Barter. 



)llowing Ladies from 


Heath have Married Physicians 


[iss Mary Hunt 


married Dr. Ebenezer Tucker. 


" Olive Dickinson 


" " George Hill. 


" Sarah Cheney 


" " Joseph Emerson. 


" Cynthia Rugg 


" " Alexander Pool. 


" Emily Adams 


" " Nathan M. Bemis. 


" Cordelia E. Adams 


" " Orsamus Bemis. 


" Clarinda Allen 


" ' Jonas W. Smith. 


" Sophia W. Strong 


" Benjamin W. Dwight. 


" Lydia Henry 


" " Benjamin Stevens. 


" Prudence Henry 


" " Samuel Moore. 


" Esther Thayer 


" " David Hiscock. 


" Fannie White 


" " Moses Barrett. 


" Jane Flagg 


" " Cyrus Temple. 


" Abbie J. Warfield 


" " Hiram Temple. 



The Following Ladies from Heath have Studied at Higher 

Seminaries. 

Mrs. Sarah Miller Dickinson Miss Lyon's School, Ashfield or Buckland. 
" Mary Miller Leavitt 
" Keziah Hunt Leavitt 
" Eliza Hunt Leavitt 
" Elizabeth Taylor Ayer, 

(Missionary) 



142 



Mrs. Diantha Smith Wing 

" Clarissa Leavitt Ware 

" Chloe Leavitt Field 

" Lydia Henry Stevens 

" Betsey Temple Kinsman 

" Nancy Wilson Spooner 

" Electa Thayer Minnie 

" Diadama Rugs Goodell 

" Bethiah A. Miller Nichols 

" Hannah B. Miller Leonard 

" Susan Reed Howland, (Missionary) 

" Martha Sawyer Burnell " 

" Catharine Sawyer Donkin 

" Helen Thompson Miller 

" Harriett Thompson Mead 
Miss Sarah Grace Thompson 

" Elizabeth M. Dickinson 
Mrs. Abbie J. White Rice 
Miss Julia S. White 
Mrs. Lucy Hasting Bates 

" Margarett Hastings Dewey 

" Sarah J. Hastings Nichols 

" Nancy S. S. Hastings Ward 

*' Esther Dickinson Crittenden 

" Olive Dickinson Hill 

" Eleanor M. Dickinson 

" Julia Dickinson Hastings 

" Lucretia White Lamb 

" Felicia Emerson Welch 

" Cynthia Rugg Pool 

" Martha Rugg Wallace 

" Sarah Rugg Simons 

" Henrietta Harrington Allen 

" Ann Henry Lathrop 

'• Alma Emerson Miller 
Miss Laura Emerson 

" Harriett White 

" Mary A. White 

" Flora White 

" Seraphina Brown 
Mrs. Mary Leavitt Hillman 

" Sarah M. Dickinson Leavitt 

" Lucretia Lamb Miller 

" Harriett Lamb Hall 

'• Susan Lamb Davidson 

" Abbie Lamb Davidson 

" Sarah Smith Adams 

" Nellie L. Smith. 



Miss Lyon's School, Ashfield or Buckland. 



Mount Holyoke Seminary. 



<( C< (< 

Westfield Academy. 

a a 

<( << 

Amherst Academy. 
Hopkins Academy, Hadley. 

<( ■( (C 

<( << << 

(( << << 

Williston Seminary. 



Bradford Academy. 

Wheaton Seminary, Norton Mass. 

Westfield Normal School. 



West Haven Seminary. 

Rockford Seminary. 

Worcester High School. 

Maplewood Institute. 

Delaware College. O. 

Norton Female Seminary. 



143 



Selectmen of the Town of Heath, 



Fob 100 Years. 



1785-86. 
Hugh Maxwell, 
Aseph White. 
John Brown. 

1787. 
Jos. White. 
Benj. White. 
Thos. Harrington. 

1788. 
Jos. White. 
Aseph Wliite. 
Thos. Harrington. 

1789-90. 
Asepli Wliite. 
Benj. White. 
Wm. Buck. 

1791-92. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Jos. White. 
Willis Wilder. 

1793-94. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Benj. White. 
Jacob Chapin. 

1795. 
Benj. White. 
Jacob Chapin. 
Thos. Harrington. 

1796. 
Benj. White. 
Thos. Harrington. 
Wm. Buck. 

1797. 
Benj. White. 
Aseph White. 
John Brown. 

1798. 
Benj. White. 
Thos. Harrington. 
Jacob Chapin. 

1799. 
Benj. White. 
Thos. Harrington. 
Wm. Hunt. 

1800-1. 
Benj. White. 
Wm. Hunt. 
Eodger Leavitt. 



1802. 
Benj. White. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
Benj. Maxwell, Jr. 

1803. 
Benj. White. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
Jacob Chapin. 

1804. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
David White. 
Thos. Harrington. 

1805. 
Thos. Harrington. 
David White. 
Wm. Hunt. 

1806. 
Benj. White. 
Edw. Tucker. 
Wm. Hunt. 

1807. 
Benj. White. 
David Henry. 
David White. 

1808. 
Benj. White. 
Eodger Leavitt. 
Eph. Hastings. 

1809. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
Eph. Hastings. 
Luther Gale. 

1810-11. 
Thos. Harrington. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
Wm. Hunt. 

1812-13. 
Eph. Hastings. 
Luther Gale. 
Peter Hunt. 

1814. 
David White. 
Wm. Hunt. 
Jessie Gale. 

1815. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
David White. 
Reuben Porter. 



144 



1816. 
Eph. Hastings. 
Luther Gale. 
(Lieut.) Hugh Maxwell. 

1817. 
Luther Gale. 
David White. 
Sol'n Gleason. 

1818. 
Aaron Brown. 
Dau'l Kusxff- 
Winslow Maxwell. 

1819. 
Luther Gale. 
Winslow Maxwell. 
David Henry. 

1820. 
Kodger Leavitt. 
Aaron Brown. 
David Thayer. 

1821. 
Aaron Brown. 
Luther Gale. 
Eph. Hastings. 

1822. 
Aaron Brown. 
Ben.i. Maxwell. 
Dan'l Gale. 

1823. 
Dan'l Gale. 
Sam. Hastings. 
Benj. Maxwell. 

1824. 
Rodger Leavitt. 
Eph. Hastings. 
David Rugg. 

1825. 
Eph. Hastings. 
Luther Gale. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 

1826. 
Sullivan Taft. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
David Rugg. 

1827. 
Sullivan Taft. 
Benj. Maxwell. 
Timothy Harrington. 

1828. 
Luther Gale. 
Enos Adams. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 



1829. 
Asa Kendrick. 
Rodger H. Leavitt. 
David Temple. 

1830. 
Benj. Maxwell. 
Dan'l Gale. 
Peter Hunt. 

1831. 
Benj. Maxwell. 
Dan. Gale. 
Capt. Geo. Eaton. 

1832. 
Luther Gale. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Rodger H. Leavitt. 

1833. 
Benj. Maxwell, 
Rodger H. Leavitt. 
Winslow Buck. 

1834. 
Benj. Maxwell. 
Winslow Buck. 
Capt. Geo. Eaton. 

1835. 
Capt. Geo. Eaton. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
John Henry. 

1S36. 
Luther Gale. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
John Temple. 

1837. 
"Winslow Buck. 
David Gould. 
Wm. Gleason. 

1S38. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Winslow Buck. 
Edw. Tucker. 

1839. 

Jos. W. Hunt. 
Edw. Tucker. 
Rodolphus White. 

1840. 
Jos. Chapin. 
David Rugg. 
John Henry. 

1841. 
Edw. Tucker. 
Hart Leavitt. 
David White, 2nd. 



145 



18i2. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Hart Leavitt. 
Edw. Tucker. 

1843. 
Benj. Maxwell. 
Aaron Smith. 
David Temple. 

1844. 
David Temple. 
Edw. Tucker. 
Jos.^W. Hunt. 

1845. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Hart Leavitt. 
Presby Hillman. 

1846, 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Abijali Gleason. 
Aaron Smith. 

1847. 
David A. Dalrymple. 
David Temple. 
Hart Leavitt. 

1848. 

Jos. W. Hunt. 
John Henry. 
Hart Brown. 

1849. 

David Temple. 
Hart Brown. 
Wm. Gleason. 

1850. 
David Temple . 
David Rugg. 
Eobt. M. Wilson. 

1851. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Edw. Tucker. 
David Gould. 

1852. 
David Temple. 
Wm. Bassett. 
John Read. 

1853. 
Benj. A. Farnsworth. 
David Gould. 
Jos. P. White. 

1854. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
John Read. 
John Burrington. 



1855. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
David Temple. 
John Burrington. 

1856. 
Jos. W. Hunt. 
Arad Hall. 
Wm. Bassett. 

1857. 
Arad Hall. 
John Read. 
David Temple. 

1858. 
Jos. Robbins. 
Wm. Bassett. 
Geo. C. Gale. 

1859. 
Arad Hall. 
John Henry. 
John Burrington. 

1860, 
David Temple. 
Jehn Henry. 
Horace McGee. 

1861. 

Arad Hall. 
John Henry. 
Jos. Robbins. 

1862. 
David Temple. 
Horace McGee. 
David M. Sprague. 

1863. 
David Temple. 
Cyrus Temple. 
John Read. 

1864. 
E. Payson Thompson. 
John Henry, 
Henry L. Warfield. 

1865. 
Arad Hall. 
E. P. Thompson. 
W. S . Gleason. 

1866-67. 
David Temple. 
John Read. 
Cyrus Temple. 

1868. 
John Read, 
Dan'l Gale. 
Hugh Maxwell. 



146 



1869. 
John Kead. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Jos. Robbins. 

1870-71. 
John Uead. 
Edmund M. Vincent. 
Orsamus Maxwell. 

1872. 
John Read. 
Or.saniu.s Maxwell. 
Horace McGee. 

1873. 
Wm. S. Gleason. 
Isaac W. Stet.son. 
Dan'l Gale. 

1874. 

Wm. S. Gleason. 
John Read. 
E. M. Vincent. 

1875. 
Wm. S. Gleason. 
Jonathan Peterson. 
Wm. H. Hunt. 

1876. 
David Temple. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
E. M. Vincent. 

1877. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
John Read. 
Jonathan Peterson. 



1878. 
Wm. S. Gleason. 
John Read. 
A. J. Burrington. 

1879. 

Hugh Maxwell. 
Jonathan Peterson. 
Wm. H. Hunt. 

1880. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Wm. H. Hunt. 
Wm. S. Gleason. 

1881. 

Hugh Maxwell. 

R. W. Gillett. 

Wm. H. Burrington. 

1882. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
E. M. Vincent 
I. W. Stetson, 

1883. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Jonathan Peterson. 
I. W. Stetson. 

1884. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Wm. S. Gleason. 
I. W. Stet.son. 

188,5. 
Hugh Maxwell. 
Wm. S. Gleason. 
Frank Rice. 



Town Clerks, for 100 Years. 
James Wliite, 1785-6-7-8-9-90. 
Col. Hugh Maxwell, 1691-2-3-4. 
Dan'l Spooner, 1795. 
Col. Hugh Maxwell, 1796-7-8-9. 
Thos. Harrington, 1800-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21- 

22-23-24-25-26. 
Winslow Maxwell, 1827-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36. 
John Hastings, 1837-38-39-40-41. 
Lysandcr M, Ward, 1842-43-44-45-46-47-48-49. 
B. F. Coolidge, 1850. John F. Temple, 1850. 

Aaron Dickinson, 1851-52-53-54-55-60-61-62-64. 
Cyrus Temple, 1853-66-67. 
Aaron Smith, 1756-57-58-59-63. 
Ephr. Scott, 1868.69-70-71. 

Amos Temple, 1872-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84. 
Hugli Maxwell, 1885. 



147 



Town Treasurers, for 100 Years. 

James White, 1785-6, 

Col. Hugh Maxwell, 1787-8. 

John Brown, 1789-90. 

Benj. White, 1791-2. 

Seth Temple, 1793-4-5-6-7-8-9, 1800-1-2-3. 

Benj. White, 1804-5. 

Wm. Buck, 1806-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24. 

Dan'l Kugg, 1825-26-27-28. 

Col. David Snow, 1829-30-31-32-33. 

John Hastings, Jr., 1834-35-36-37-38-39-40-41. 

Aaron Smith, 1842-43-44-45-46-47-48-49, 1852-53-54-55-56-57-58-59. 

Dr. A. H. Taylor, 1850. 

John F. Temple, 1851. 

Arad Hall, 1860-61-62-63-64-65, 

Jos. Bobbins, 1866. 

Ephr. Scott, 1867-68-69-70-71. 

Amos Temple, 1872-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84. 

Hugh Maxwell, 1885. 



Representatives to the General Court. 

Ephraim Hastings, 1812-20-21-23-28-29-33-40-42. 

Kodger Leavitt, 1813-14-16. 

Dr. Jos. Emerson, 1815. 

Luther Gale, 1817-26-34-38-41-43. 

David White, 1835-36-37. 

Sullivan Taft, 1845. 

Presby Hillman, 1847. 

Jos. White, 2nd, 1850. 

Capt. David Gould, 1851, 

Ashmun H. Taylor, 1852, 

Jos. W. Hunt, 1853. 

Aaron Dickinson, 1856, 

Philip Gale, 1859, 

Arad Hall, 1864, 

Dan'l Gale, 1869. 

Edmund M. Vincent, 1874. 

Hugh Maxwell, 1880. 



148 



Population of Heath, from 1790 to 1885. 



Yeab. 



Census. 



Pop. 



1790 
1800 
1810 
1820 
1830 
1840 
1850 
1855 
1860 
1865 
1870 
1875 
1880 
1885 



Colonial 

United States 



Massachusetts, State. 

United States 

Massachusetts, State. 

United States 

Massachusetts, State. 

United States 

Massachusetts, State. 



379 
604 
917 
1,122 
1,199 
895 
803 
741 
661 
642 
613 
545 
560 
568 



Errata. 

Page 13, line 21, for "De Vandrenil" read "De Vaudreuil." 

Page 15, line 31, for "country" read "county." 

Page 16, line 31, omit word "to." 

Page 20, in last line, for "in" read "near." 

Page 21, in last line, for "seven" read "eleven." 

Page 28, line 8, for "where" read "when." 

Page 31, line 33, for "Ames" read "Arms." 

Page 49, line 4, for "IJrown" read "Bond." 

Page 49, line 28, for "striking" read "stirring." 

Page 53, line 32, for "then" read "there." 

Page CI, last line, for "arrainged" read "arraigned." 

Page 02, line 12, for "own" read "nou." 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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